I don't live in NY, so take my opinion with a grain (or lick) of salt...
I voted no to banning them, but the state should do everything it can to make sure the tankers pass safety regulations. This is one situation where over-regulation may be warranted as accidents can kill people or cause havoc to local water systems.
It's my understanding that the problem is the North Dakota Bakken crude isn't scrubbed of its most volatile elements (eg natural gas) before it's shipped, as it is in other more established petroleum fields. The newness of the strike, demand, and the fact that local refining infrastructure hasn't had time to catch up, has produced the boom, the risk, and the problem. The number of tankers on the aging rail system has increased exponentially, and there's going to be more blasts. Count on it.
I would vote to stop the trains. Let capital be responsible, and treat the crude before shipment, as is the industry standard.
I don't live in NY, so take
I don't live in NY, so take my opinion with a grain (or lick) of salt...
I voted no to banning them, but the state should do everything it can to make sure the tankers pass safety regulations. This is one situation where over-regulation may be warranted as accidents can kill people or cause havoc to local water systems.
It's my understanding that
It's my understanding that the problem is the North Dakota Bakken crude isn't scrubbed of its most volatile elements (eg natural gas) before it's shipped, as it is in other more established petroleum fields. The newness of the strike, demand, and the fact that local refining infrastructure hasn't had time to catch up, has produced the boom, the risk, and the problem. The number of tankers on the aging rail system has increased exponentially, and there's going to be more blasts. Count on it.
I would vote to stop the trains. Let capital be responsible, and treat the crude before shipment, as is the industry standard.
"but the state should do
"but the state should do everything it can to make sure the tankers pass safety regulations."
The state does, and so does the Federal Railroad Administration, regulate trains.