The latest hazardous material report from the Illinois Commerce Commission found minimal violations on state railways.
Of more than 8,500 rail cars inspected by the ICC last year, just 1.3% were cited for violations. Additionally, the commission’s rail safety expert Brian Vercruysee says there were 83 rail incidents in 2022, most involving diesel.
“So as the trains and locomotives are running, we may have a fuel tank that’s punctured, but there were 5 other incidents that occurred where derailments where hazardous materials were spilled and that’s kind of average over the last 4-5 years.”
Vercruysee says the derailment in Ohio has led the ICC to take a closer look at training and protocols for responding to a potential disaster here in Illinois.
“How to handle a response if it’s needed. And making sure all aspects of that response from unified command with the decision making through all of the agencies on site, especially through our fire and volunteer services to make sure they have all the equipment that is needed.”
In addition to routine inspections, the ICC’s Hazardous Materials Safety Program includes technical assistance to shippers, consignees, and rail carriers; the inspection and escort of nuclear materials; and education and outreach activities. To keep communities safe in the event of a derailment, ICC works with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to provide technical aid to local emergency responders and investigate the cause of hazmat incidents.
