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Lowey, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, sent a letter to Obama asking him to "direct all federal agencies responsible for the oversight of crude oil transport to make more expansive use of their emergency authority in order to immediately mitigate the dangers that crude oil transport poses to communities across the country," according to a press release. Lowey called for an expedited review of crude oil transport regulations expected to be submitted by the U.S. Department of Transportation to the Office of Management and Budget, according to the release.
“In light of recent accidents and the drastic increase in domestic crude production, elected officials across all levels of government, industry stakeholders, and safety advocates agree that the issues surround the use of these tank cars must be urgently addressed,” said Lowey. “I urge you to commit additional resources … and to employ every possible means at your disposal to immediately address this public safety threat.”
Lowey’s letter is a response to recent tragic events across the country involving the disasters during the transport of crude oil, most recently today in Lynchburg, Va., where a train carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire, according to the release.
Read the full text of the letter here.
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