Letter to Joseph C. Szabo, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration - Extended Inspection of Portsmouth and Newington Industrial Tracks in Response to Public Safety Concerns

Letter

Dear Administrator Szabo:

As you know, on January 13, 2014, the New Hampshire Towns of Newington, Stratham, Greenland, and the City of Portsmouth requested that the FRA conduct an inspection of the Portsmouth and Newington Industrial Tracks, which are owned by Pan Am Railways. Given the pending application from Sea-3, Inc. to expand its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) facilities in Newington, we strongly urge the FRA to conduct this inspection in a timely manner. In addition, because of the public safety concerns raised by residents in these communities, we believe the FRA's attendance at a public forum on track safety would be beneficial.

These communities have raised concerns about the condition and safety of these tracks, and the dangers associated with using them to transport highly flammable material. The safety of these tracks is of paramount importance, especially in light of a recent study of freight train derailments that found that broken rails or track welds are the leading cause of derailments. Pan Am Railways currently operates two to three trains per week, each with seven to 12 rail cars, which are only allowed to travel 10 miles per hour due to track conditions.

We ask that the FRA conduct an inspection of the Portsmouth and Newington Industrial Tracks and provide the results to the Town of Newington in an expedient manner, and that the FRA participate in a public forum to discuss track safety.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. We look forward to your response.

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