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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 10071997 - SD2 s.D.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS eE-6----L CONTRA COSTA - s COUNTY ' FROM: William Walker, MD �o T_- a Health Services Director STa CO— DATE: October 1, 1997 SUBJECT: Railroad Maintenance and Safety SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION Recommendation: CONSIDER approving a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission regarding railroad maintenance and safety issues, as directed by the Board of Supervisors on September 16, 1997; in connection therewith, CONSIDER whether to schedule a Workshop on railroad safety issues and, if on is selected, APPROVE a tentative agenda for the Workshop. Background: On September 16, 1997, the Board heard a report from Health Services Director Dr. William Walker on the September 13 railroad accident in Pittsburg. Hundreds of residents were evacuated as a precaution after four cars derailed, one of which contained munitions. Fourteen other cars containing munitions were part of the train. Due to concern over this accident, another on May 23, 1997 in Franklin Canyon that also led to evacuation, and a third in Franklin Canyon on September 2, 1994, the Board directed the Health Services Director to draft a letter to the Public Utilities Commission regarding railroad safety and hazardous materials. The Board also directed the Health Services Director to prepare a draft agenda for a Board workshop on railroad safety for the Board's consideration. Both items are attached. Fiscal Impact: None. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: yes SIGNATURE "v RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON October 7, 1997 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X Please see Addendum (Attached) for Board Action on this matter. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT Dist. III ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. ABSENT: - ABSTAIN: Contact Person: Elinor Blake 370-5022 ATTESTED Octo er 7, 1997 CC: Health Services Director P CL HELOR, ERK OF THE BO OF County Administrator S 'SORSA DCOU Y MI TRATOR Hazardous Materiai' Commission (via HSD) B Christine Wa pler SD.2 ADDENDUM Item SD.2 October 7, 1997 Elinor Blake, Health Services Department, provided a staff report outlining the attached recommendations. Subsequent to the staff report, the Board members discussed the issues and took the following action: 1. APPROVED and AUTHORIZED the Chair, Board of Supervisors, to sign a letter (attached) to the California Public Utilities Commission regarding railroad maintenance and safety issues; 2. DIRECTED that the aforementioned letter be distributed to the County's Legislative Delegation and to the Mayors within the County; 3. REFERRED the issue of a Workshop on Railroad Safety Issues and the tentative workshop agenda to the Hazardous Materials Commission for review and recommendation to the Board; and 4. REQUESTED that the County Administrator communicate with the Mayors' Conference regarding the possible coordination of a joint effort relative to these issues. cc: Health Services Director County Administrator Hazardous Materials Commission (via HSD) DRAFT DRAFT Workshop on Railroad Safety Agenda Overview . . . . . Health Services Department Where are railroad tracks located in the County? How much and what types of hazardous material are shipped through the County by rail? What railroad companies are involved, and who provides oversight? How has the County addressed rail safety previously? Review of recent hazardous materials incidents locally and statewide, their causes, and programs in place and in development to prevent them; follow- up activities on recent Contra Costa County accidents. . . . . . Public Utilities Commission Changes expected as a result of the railroads' mergers, and how safety issues are being addressed . . . . . Union Pacific Railroad, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, and short lines Discussion, and action items SD .2- ; The Board of Supervisors Contra Cieof 0*Board hil Batchelor and County Administration Building0 Costa county Administrator 651 pine Street, Room 106 (510)335-1900 Martinez,California 94553-1293 County Jim Ropers,1 at District Gayle B.UlIkeme,2nd District Donne Gerber,3rd District f =_ hark DeSeulnler,4th District —/ Joe Cenclemille,5th District 0 ST'9 COVN� October 7, 1997 P. Gregory Conlon President Public Utilities Commission 505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94102 Dear Mr. Conlon: On behalf of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, I am writing to express our concern for the safety of those who live and work in our county in the wake of a series of railroad accidents here. On September 13, 1997,hundreds of Pittsburg residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure when four cars derailed in a train carrying 15 cars of munitions. Days later, on September 25, another car derailed in Pittsburg; the car contained liquid chlorine. Only four months ago, on May 23, 1997, dozens of families were evacuated after 19 cars derailed in Franklin Canyon near Martinez. Some of these cars held hazardous chemical residue. Another accident occurred at almost the same location on September 2, 1994. The rails carry a large and diverse cargo of hazardous materials through our county. As hazardous materials rail transport increases nationally,we expect it may increase even more significantly here as a result of the Union Pacific-Southern Pacific and Burlington Northern- Santa Fe mergers. Not only is the volume likely to increase, but the number of trains as well, presenting the potential for increased risk. Moreover, in September the Federal Railroad Administration issued a report documenting Union Pacific safety problems. This increase demands ongoing vigilance to ensure the public's safety. We are aware that the rate of rail accidents involving hazardous materials is declining nationally relative to the amount shipped, and we applaud regulators,railroad companies, and shippers for their efforts. The PUC has recently added new rules for 18 segments of track(none in our county)that the PUC considered to present a particular risk of accident. It is clear that much more effort is yet needed: we are alarmed at experiencing three accidents in just four months,while facing the prospect of a rise in hazardous materials transport by rail. We need strong,well-staffed programs for inspection of tracks (common and private) and equipment; assurance of maintenance; proper safety measures and procedures; and training for all personnel who work on the railroads and trains. J Public Utilities Commission Page 2 Railroad Safety October 7, 1997 v . We urge you to work with the Federal Railroad Administration to address this problem and assure our Board and County residents that these accidents will not continue. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Mark DeSaulnier Chair cc: Ken Koss, Director, PUC Railroad Safety and Carriers Division Dick L. Clairmont, Acting Regional Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration William B. Walker, M.D., Health Services Director, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, Contra Costa County George Miller, 7h Congressional District Ellen Tauscher, 10`h Congressional District Barbara Lee, California State Senate Richard K. Rainey, California State Senate Dion Aroner, California State Assembly Lynne C. Leach, California State Assembly Tom Torlakson, California State Assembly Mary H. Rocha, Mayor, City of Antioch John Morrill, Mayor, City of Brentwood Gregg Manning, Mayor, City of Clayton Bill Manigal, Mayor, City of Concord Mike Doyle, Mayor, City of Danville Norma Jellison, Mayor, City of El Cerrito Terry Segerberg, Mayor, City of Hercules Don Tatzin, Mayor, City of Lafayette Michael Menesini, Mayor, City of Martinez Michael Majchrzak, Mayor, City of Moraga Sargent Littlehale, Mayor, City of Orinda Betty Boyle, Mayor, City of Pinole Robert Lewis, Mayor, City of Pittsburg Kimberly Brandt, Mayor, City of Pleasant Hill Rosemary M. Corbin, Mayor, City of Richmond Joseph M. Gomes, Mayor, City of San Pablo Patricia Boom, Mayor, City of San Ramon Kathy Hicks, Mayor, City of Walnut Creek Peg Kovar, Executive Secretary, Mayors' Conference