Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016 Railroad blamed for iery oil train derailment Investigators say company failed to maintain track By MATTHEW BROWN and GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press PORTLAND — Federal investigators on Thursday blamed Union Paciic Railroad for a iery oil train derailment along the Oregon-Washington border, saying the company failed to properly maintain its track. Preliminary indings on the June 3 derailment in the Columbia River Gorge raise questions about why the com- pany didn’t ind the broken bolts that triggered the wreck when it inspected the tracks right before the derailment. Union Paciic faces potential penalties for safety violations, oficials said. The Associated Press obtained the indings ahead of their Thursday release. Advanced electronic brakes proposed by regulators could have made the derailment less severe, Federal Railroad Administrator Sarah Fein- berg said. The brakes could have reduced the number of cars that went off the tracks and prevented the one that irst burst into lames from being punctured, oficials said. Railroads have resisted those brakes because of their high price tag. “We’re talking about upgrading a brake system that is from the Civil War era,” Feinberg said. “It’s not too much to ask these companies to improve their braking sys- tems in the event of an accident so fewer cars are derailing.” The derailment released 42,000 gallons of crude oil and sparked a massive ire that burned for 14 hours. Union Paciic said its inspections didn’t detect the broken bolts that caused the derailment. The company tests for sideways movement in the rails using a machine that puts an amount of pressure equiv- alent to a locomotive on the rails — a stress test that would reveal loose or broken bolts, said Justin Jacobs, a Union Paciic spokesman. The stress test previously was conducted every 18 months but will now be done every three months, Jacobs said. Union Paciic also has expanded inspections of all its tracks in Oregon and Washing- ton state, particularly in curved portions of track, he said. The company has said the rails were inspected as recently as May 31, but it wasn’t clear if the inspection included the stress test. Jacobs didn’t know. The government’s pre- liminary report said walk- ing inspections along the rails were critical to detect broken bolts and track movement. Feinberg said it was the rail- road’s responsibility to detect those problems. “We feel like it could have been prevented with closer inspections, better mainte- nance,” she said. At least 27 oil trains have been involved in major derail- ments, ires or oil spills in the U.S. and Canada during the past decade, accord- ing to an AP analysis of acci- dent records. Federal oficials have responded with require- ments for tougher tank cars, speed restrictions and other actions, but the accidents have continued. Steven Ditmeyer, a rail consultant who worked in leadership positions at both the Federal Railroad Administra- tion and at Burlington North- ern Railroad, said sheared- off bolts like those seen in the Oregon derailment are likely symptoms of a larger problem. In the 1990s, he said, Burl- ington Northern had a series of derailments on tracks in Wash- A (2) (-) (-) (6) (-) (8) (9) (10) (12) (13) (-) (20) (-) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) L KATU KOMO KING KOIN KIRO KGW KRCW KOPB KPTV KPDX KCPQ TBS KZJO ESPN ESPN2 NICK DISN FAM FMC LIFE ROOT FS1 SPIKE COM HIST A&E TLC DISC NGEO TNT AMC USA FOOD HGTV FX CNN FNC CNBC BRAV TCM SYFY RFD (2) (4) (5) (-) (7) (-) (3) (10) (12) (-) (13) (20) (22) (29) (30) (31) (32) (34) (35) (36) (38) (39) (43) (44) (45) (46) (47) (48) (49) (50) (51) (52) (53) (54) (56) (57) (58) (61) (63) (64) (65) (162) 6 ington state that all involved sheared off cut spikes, which served the same function as the bolts in question in the recent wreck. Investigators eventually determined overloaded cars, a lack of lubrication between the wheel assembly and the body of the tanker cars and not enough gravel in the railroad bed combined to put strain on the track when the train was in a curve. That strain loos- ened the bolts holding the rails to the rail ties and pushed the rails apart, causing derail- ments, he said. “When they said those sheared lag bolts, that was the W A NTED Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber N orth w es t H a rdw oods • Lon gview , W A Contact: Steve Axtell • 360-430-0885 or John Anderson • 360-269-2500 Conceal Carry permit c classes sses Thursday, June 30 th 1pm and 6pm hint that said they really need to look in the direction of these other aspects,” Ditmeyer told the AP. “These are heavy cars when they’re fully loaded,” and a treatment to reduce the volatility of the Bakken crude makes the oil heavier, he said. The Oregon Department of Transportation last week asked federal rail authorities for a moratorium on oil trains in the Columbia River Gorge after also expressing concerns that the weight of the oil trains might be too much for the tracks. In a presentation last week, department administrator Hal Gard said the lag bolts found at the scene were rusted on both ends, indicating they were sheared off before the derail- ment. State oficials showed a photo of a pile of lag bolts col- lected at the site. The report was released the day after Union Paciic said it would start moving oil trains through the scenic Columbia River gorge again sometime later this week. The company defended its decision in a statement, reit- erating the federal obligations it is under and highlighting SHARKS SHOULD SCARE YOU . UNEXPECTED MEDICAL COSTS SHOULDN’T $59 59 p per y year protects cts s y yo you your u y from unforeseen unf res es s ee e n een family* mbulance costs an d ke eep eps ambulance and keeps b a ay. y. your worries at bay. J OIN L IFE C ARE T ODAY! Open enrollment through June 30, 2016 www.ambulancemembership.com/medix Call us today at 503-861-5558 or stop by our offi ce MEDIX AMBULANCE SERVICE 2325 SE DOLPHIN AVENUE WARRENTON, OR 97146 WALK-IN’S WA WELCOME BEST WESTERN 555 Hamburg Ave, Astoria, OR OR/Utah - valid in WA $80 or Oregon only $45 MULTI-STATE *Resident Permit Valid in 35 States; Non-Resident Valid in 30 States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, *Colorado, Delaware, *Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, *Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, *New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, *Pennsylvania, *South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming *Not pictured: Alaska, Hawaii 360.921.2071 FirearmTrainingNW.com : FirearmTrainingNW@gmail.com THE DAILY ASTORIAN T HURSDAY E VENING Mark B. Gibson/The Dalles Chronicle A train towing cars full of oil sends up a plume of smoke after derailing June 3 near Mosier by the scenic Columbia River Gorge. the tiny fraction of its Ore- gon shipments — less than 1 percent — that come from oil trains. In addition to state trans- portation oficials, Multnomah County and several municipal- ities including Portland and Mosier have called on Con- gress and the White House for bans on oil being moved by rail, which is under the federal government’s authority. Gov. Kate Brown has called for a federal moratorium on transporting oil on trains until the system is unquestionably safe. “The preliminary indings released today by the Federal Railroad Administration con- irm the deep concerns we have regarding track safety in the Columbia River Gorge. Union Paciic has not done enough to regain the conidence of Ore- gonians shaken by the Mosier derailment to restart oil ship- ments through this area,” U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley said in a statement. “We reiterate our call for federal rail regulators to put in place an emergency order, and to continue examining issues related to lag bolts and track fastening systems that appear to have caused this accident.” Brown reported from Bill- ings, Montana. *Full year, per household. Family includes you and household dependents. LISTINGS A - Charter Astoria/ Seaside - L - Charter Long Beach IN AN EMERGENCY CALL 9-1-1 Evening listings THURSDAY J UNE 23 PM 6:30 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM 9:30 10 PM 10:30 11 PM 11:30 KATU News at 6 Jeopardy! Wheel of Fortune BattleBots "Robots Activate: Qualifying Round Begins" (SP) (N) Celebrity Family Feud KATU News at 11 (:35) Jimmy Kimmel KOMO 4 News Wheel of Fortune Jeopardy! BattleBots "Robots Activate: Qualifying Round Begins" (SP) (N) Celebrity Family Feud KOMO 4 News (:35) Jimmy Kimmel NBC Nightly News KING 5 News KING 5 News Evening Spartan "Premiere" Spartan "No One Triumphs Alone" (N) Aquarius "Revolution 1" (N) KING 5 News (:35) Tonight Show KOIN 6 News at 6 CBS Evening News Extra Ent. Tonight Big Bang Theory Life in Pieces Big Brother Code Black "Black Tag" KOIN 6 News @ 11 (:35) S. Colbert KIRO 7 News CBS Evening News The Insider Ent. Tonight Big Bang Theory Life in Pieces Big Brother Code Black "Black Tag" KIRO News (:35) S. Colbert KGW News at 6:00 p.m. Live at Seven Inside Edition Spartan "Premiere" Spartan "No One Triumphs Alone" (N) Aquarius "Revolution 1" (N) KGW News at 11 (:35) Tonight Show Seinfeld Seinfeld Modern Family Modern Family DC's Legends of Tomorrow "Fail Safe" B. & Beast "Something's Gotta Give" (N) KGW News at 10 (:35) Two 1/2 Men (:05) Two 1/2 Men (:35) King of Hill Mickela Mallozi Business (N) PBS NewsHour Oregon Art Beat Oregon Guide DCI Banks "Wednesday's Child" (:35) Afterlife "Mirrorball" Ore. Experience 6 O'Clock News Family Feud Family Feud Bones "The Stiff in the Cliff" (N) Home Free "Holmes on the Ranch" (N) 10 O'Clock News 11 O'Clock News Loves Ray Mike & Molly Mike & Molly Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory FOX 12's 8 O'Clock News on PDX-TV FOX 12's 9 O'Clock News on PDX-TV The Mentalist "Aingavite Baa" The Mentalist "Blood Money" Name Game Modern Family Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Bones "The Stiff in the Cliff" (N) Home Free "Holmes on the Ranch" (N) Q13 News at 10 Q13 News Modern Family Seinfeld Pt. 1 of 2 Seinfeld Pt. 2 of 2 Seinfeld Pt. 1 of 2 Seinfeld Pt. 2 of 2 2 Broke Girls 2 Broke Girls Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory 2 Broke Girls 2 Broke Girls Conan (N) Two and a Half Two and a Half The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Modern Family Q13 News at 9 Big Bang Theory Big Bang Theory Friends Pt. 1 of 2 Friends (4:30) NBA Draft (L) SportsCenter SportsCenter SportsCenter SportsCenter O.J.: In America "Part Five" O.J.'s post-acquittal life takes ever stranger turns. 5/5 Jalen & Jacoby (N) NFL Live (5:00) NCAA Baseball Division I Tournament (L) SanjayCraig (N) Henry Danger The Thundermans The Thundermans Zookeeper (2011, Comedy) Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb, Kevin James. Full House Full House Friends Friends Finding Nemo ('03) Albert Brooks. Liv and Maddie K.C. Undercover Liv and Maddie Stuck in Middle (:45) Bunk'd (:10) Liv Maddie (:35) Walk Prank K.C. Undercover Girl Meets World (5:00) Bride Wars ('09) Kate Hudson. (:15) The Wedding Planner (2001, Romance) Matthew McConaughey, Bridgette Wilson, Jennifer Lopez. Pretty Little Liars "Tick Tock, B*tches" The 700 Club (5:00) X-Men Origins: Wolverine (:15) FXM Presents X-Men Origins: Wolverine ('09) Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Hugh Jackman. (:45) FXM Presents A Good Day to Die Hard ('13) Bruce Willis. (:55) FXM Presents Wives "Pretty Young Deadly Things" Deadly Wives "Marlboro Man Murder" Deadly Wives "Murder for Proffitt" Deadly Wives "Acid Lady" Deadly Wives "Craven for Murder" Deadly Wives MLB Baseball Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers Site: Comerica Park -- Detroit, Mich. Post-game NHRA Drag Racing (5:00) Champions Tennis (5:30) UFC Fight Night Fox Sports Live Fox Sports Live TMZ Sports (N) Best I Heard (N) Fox Sports Live Garbage Time Speak for Yourself Law Abiding Citizen (2009, Crime Story) Gerard Butler, Colm Meaney, Jamie Foxx. (4:00) Machete Lip Sync Battle Lip Sync Battle (N) Lip Sync Battle Lip Sync Battle Lip Sync Battle Futurama / (:25) Futurama (:55) Futurama Futurama Jim Gaffigan (N) Jim Gaffigan (N) Tosh.0 Tosh.0 Tosh.0 Tosh.0 The Daily Show (N) Nightly Show (N) Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Alone: A Deeper Cut "The Ascent" (N) Alone "The Madness" (N) (:05) Mountain Men (:05) Mountain Men The First 48 "The Graveyard Shift" The First 48 "Murder in Treme" The First 48 "Blood on Bourbon" The First 48 "Mother of Two" (N) First 48 "Closing Time/ Family Matters" (:05) The First 48 My 600-lb Life "Nikki's Story" My 600-lb Life "Gideon's Story" My 600-lb Life "Marla's Story" Extreme Weight Loss "Rachel" (N) Fat Chance "Brian" (N) My Big Fat Fabulous Life "Speechless" Fast N' Loud Fast N' Loud Street Outlaws: Full Throttle (N) To Be Announced Street Outlaws (N) Street Outlaws "Lonestar Smackdown" Primal Survivor Life Below Zero Life Below Zero Life Below Zero Port Protection Life Below Zero The Green Mile (1999, Drama) David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Tom Hanks. Castle "He's Dead, She's Dead" Castle "Under the Gun" Hitch (2005, Comedy) Eva Mendes, Kevin James, Will Smith. Bad Boys (1995, Action) Martin Lawrence, Téa Leoni, Will Smith. (4:30) Alice in Wonderland Law & Order: S.V.U. "Ghost" Law & Order: S.V.U. "Conscience" WWE Smackdown! WWE superstars do battle in long-running rivalries. Queen of the South "Piloto" 2 Fast 2 Furious ('03, Act) Paul Walker. Chopped "Rock Stars" Chopped "Fig Out" Chopped "Meatball Madness" Chopped "San Franchopco" Beat Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay Beat Bobby Flay Masters of Flip "Who Paints Brick?" Masters of Flip "Don't Be a Hero" Flip or Flop Flip or Flop Flip or Flop (N) Flip or Flop House Hunters (N) House Hunters (N) Vintage Flip (N) Vintage Flip (N) The Croods (2013, Animated) Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds, Nicolas Cage. Hotel Transylvania (2012, Animated) Kevin James, Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler. Hotel Transylvania (2012, Animated) Kevin James, Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler. Anderson Cooper 360 CNN Tonight With Don Lemon Anderson Cooper 360 CNN Newsroom CNN Newsroom CNN Newsroom The Kelly File With Megyn Kelly Hannity The O'Reilly Factor The Kelly File With Megyn Kelly Hannity On the Record Amer. Greed "Capturing the Fugitives" American Greed: Scam (N) Amer. Greed "Psychic Fiend's Network" American Greed "Six Feet Plunder" American Greed: Scam Paid Program Paid Program Below Deck "Charter King" Million Doll "No Moore Mr. Nice Guy" Million Dollar List "Take a Walker" Million Doll "Windows to Your Sale" (N) H.Wives "When the Ship Hits the Fan" WatchWhat (N) Million Dollar List Bye Bye Birdie ('63, Mus) Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret. (5:00) West Side Story ('61) Natalie Wood. (:45) The Music Man (1962, Musical) Shirley Jones, Buddy Hackett, Robert Preston. (5:00) A Nightmare on Elm Street 5:... Saw VI (2009, Horror) Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Tobin Bell. Saw: The Final Chapter (2010, Horror) Betsy Russell, Costas Mandylor, Tobin Bell. Friday the 13th ('09) Jared Padalecki. SF Machinery Small Town Rural America 'Live' Steve Lantvit Rural Eve. News Market Journal GA Farm Monitor SF Machinery Small Town Time Life Library
