8
march6
2014
Salem Report
By Representative Brad Witt
in other words/community
I want to call your attention
to an important bill for our
District. As you know, there
has been a lot of conversation
lately about both the presence
and the increase of rail cars
carrying crude oil through
our area. Recognizing this,
Senator Betsy Johnson and I,
along with several similarly minded colleagues, co-
sponsored HJM 201A, urging Congress to enhance
rail car safety. We are calling for stronger safety
standards for all rail cars transporting flammable
liquids, including crude, and cars that can’t be
retrofitted should be phased out.
There have been a lot of questions as
to what we can do at the local and state level to
regulate rail traffic and the answer is: not much.
Freight rail activity is overseen at the federal
level by the US Department of Transportation
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Regional
offices are responsible for administering and
inspecting assigned safety programs and evaluating
performance.
In spite of the lack of local control, I am
pleased to report that the US DOT issued an
Emergency Order requiring stricter standards to
transport crude oil by rail. Effective immediately,
those who offer crude oil for transportation by
rail must ensure that the product is properly tested
and classified in accordance with federal safety
regulations. The Emergency Order also requires
that all Class III crude oil shipments be designated
as Packing Group I or II, thereby requiring the use
of a more robust tank car. Packing Group III, a
lower risk designation, will not be accepted, until
further notice. This should go a long ways toward
addressing many of the concerns voiced by those
communities most impacted by rail traffic.
In advance of this Emergency Order,
railroad owner/operators were already stepping up
safety measures. In the past few weeks an agreement
was drafted between the Association of American
Railroads and the US DOT to adopt wide-ranging
safety measures and thousands of strengthened tank
cars have been ordered. In our district, and all along
the lower Columbia, rail is operated by Portland &
Western Railroad, and they have committed to rail
safety and the prosperity of our region.
In Oregon, ODOT’s Rail Division is doing
their part by continuing to inspect tracks, hazardous
materials and operating practices. Although they
are not authorized to set policy, as the agent for the
FRA they are the boots-on-the-ground inspectors
who make sure safe practices are being followed.
Finally, I must believe that the passage of
HJM 201, along with all of the other states that
passed similar legislation, made a difference. There
is strength in numbers. My office will continue to
monitor the situation to make sure that the transport
of hazardous materials receives the diligent
inspection that it deserves and that the safety of
my constituents and their communities remains at
the forefront of rail commerce in District 31 and
throughout our state.
Bills of Interest…
SB 1541: Reinstates the tax credit to farmers for
donations to children, the homeless, unemployed,
elderly or low-income individuals. HB 4055:
Includes prepaid cell phones in the funding stream
for 911 beginning in October 2015. SB 1577A:
Establishes the “Silver Alert” program, a public
notification system to broadcast information on
missing persons, primarily seniors with Alzheimer’s
Disease, dementia, or other mental disabilities, in
order to aid in their return. SB 1563: Increases
the cap on entrepreneurial development loans from
$70,000 to $100,000, and extends the loan period
from five to ten years.
Free Training to Help
Survivors of Domestic
and Sexual Violence
With the on-going debate in Columbia County
over jail funding and the possibility of its closure, SAFE
of Columbia County has seen a groundswell of concern
about the effects on victims of domestic violence and
sexual assault. The organization, which was founded in
1979 as Columbia County Women’s Resource Center, is the
county’s only agency specializing in support and advocacy
services for domestic and sexual violence survivors. SAFE
also operates the county’s only emergency shelter, a 24-bed
facility known as The Starting Place. In 2013, SAFE served
865 individuals in its advocacy and shelter programs. It
also provided prevention education to 262 students in three
Columbia County schools. With strain on the agency’s budget
and capacity and with the potential for even greater need
in the months to come, SAFE relies on community support
and volunteers to ensure that individuals are able to access
safety planning and support networks throughout the county.
Beginning March 6 and running through March 15,
SAFE will offer a 40 Hour Basic Advocacy Training, which
is free to anyone interested in directly serving survivors of
domestic and sexual violence. Interested individuals are
encouraged to contact Katie Troha, Volunteer Coordinator
and DVSA advocate to register and for more information:
503.397.7110 ext. 19 or katiet@safeofcolumbiacounty.org.
The training meets State of Oregon’s standards for
individuals who work with domestic and sexual violence
survivors. The training helps volunteers understand the
causes and effects of domestic violence, sexual assault,
and stalking, and empowers volunteers to calmly and
compassionately assist victims in crisis situations. Volunteers
who complete the 40 hour training receive a certificate and
will qualify to serve as crisis line operators, community
navigators, support group facilitators, and a number of other
roles within SAFE’s organization. They will also be better
equipped to provide care to others in their personal and/or
professional lives.
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