ALBANY OFFICE: Room 821, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-5441 FAX: 518-455-5884

DISTRICT OFFICE: 11 Main Street, Chester, New York 10918 845-469-6929 FAX: 845-469-0914
EMAIL: skoufisj@assembly.state.ny.us

THE ASSEMBLY
STATE OF NEW YORK
ALBANY

JAMES SKOUFIS
Member of Assembly
99
th
District



May 22, 2014

Hon. Anthony R. Foxx
Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590


Dear Secretary Foxx:

I am writing to urge increased federal safety regulations regarding the outdated DOT-111
tank cars used to transport hazardous materials like crude oil, which represent a grave threat
to the Hudson Valley families I represent in the New York State Assembly.

Our residents are put at risk each time an unsafe DOT-111 tank car runs through our
communities. Serious accidents across the country, and Canada - where 47 people died last
July - have highlighted the need to update our laws regulating the transport of these
hazardous materials. Its time to ramp up safety measures and protect all families from these
potentially catastrophic accidents.

As you know, last month, a train carrying crude oil using DOT-111 tank cars derailed in
Lynchburg, Virginia, causing an explosion and spilling vast amounts of oil into the James
River. Many of my constituents are concerned that at any moment a passing train could spill
oil in their backyards or the Hudson River, or put their lives at risk.

Thats why Im calling for the immediate ban of DOT-111 tank cars. These outdated cars
have been a factor in oil spills across North America. A recent report issued by five New
York State agencies cited a safety study completed by the U.S. National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) that discovered problems with these cars 23 years ago, yet they are
still being used today. The NTSB study concluded that DOT-111 tank cars had a high
incidence of failure during crashes. Clearly, this is an issue that should have already been
addressed. Every day, these tank cars carry hazardous materials without adequate
regulations, jeopardizing our families health and safety.

Recently, the Canadian governments department of transportation, Transport Canada,
announced that over the next three years, it will be phasing out the use of DOT-111 cars for
COMMITTEES
Agriculture
Consumer Affairs and Protection
Insurance
Labor
Transportation
ALBANY OFFICE: Room 821, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-5441 FAX: 518-455-5884
DISTRICT OFFICE: 11 Main Street, Chester, New York 10918 845-469-6929 FAX: 845-469-0914
EMAIL: skoufisj@assembly.state.ny.us

transporting crude oil. It is imperative that the U.S. Department of Transportation ban the use
of DOT-111 tank cars immediately and that safety measures be strengthened with new
regulations put in place for the transport of crude oil before another accident occurs.

Thank you for taking the time to address this concern. If you would like to discuss this issue
further, please contact me at 845-469-6929.

Sincerely,






James Skoufis
Member of Assembly



Cc: NYSDOT Commissioner Joan McDonald
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney