The Chicago Tribune recently reported in its article entitled “Canadian National fined $250,000” that U.S. federal regulators had reached an unprecedented decision to fine Canadian National Railway $250,000, just two years after they approved the railroad’s plan to redirect freight traffic through dozens of Chicago suburbs.
It is the first such fine ever imposed by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, (STB) and a dubious distinction for CN Rail.
The Surface Transportation Board levied the penalty against Canadian National for “knowingly violating” the board’s orders to report delays at designated railroad crossings in Illinois and Indiana. The STB’s decision on this matter can be viewed on their website.
The following statement was released on December 22 by TRAC, the citizen’s group in Chicago who have been negatively impacted by CN Rail’s expansion into their communities:
“We applaud the STB for listening to our concerns and holding Canadian National accountable for its constant disregard for public safety. However, more needs to be done to ensure that communities across the nation are not harmed by Canadian National’s lack of respect for our citizens and the STB’s authority. The STB acted only after The Regional Answer to Canadian National (TRAC) exposed the reality that Canadian National was significantly underreporting crossing delays. We have received hundreds of complaints from first responders and citizens who have been and continue to be negatively impacted by unnecessary delays due to Canadian National’s negligence in maintaining a railway that has any level of regard for the tens of thousands of people forced to cross the EJ&E daily. The Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) decision brings to light a serious flaw in how railroads are regulated.”
Cando Contracting – the company at centre of a previous post, No Cando was probably hoping that the only noise that they’d be hearing half a year later would be the sound of hundreds of Imperial Oil’s tanker cars clanging together on a regular basis next to an established nature conservancy, in an otherwise tranquil and pristine rural and residential area in Strathcona County, near Edmonton, Alberta.
However, Cando, along with Imperial Oil, and CN Rail, who made the land available for the project, are instead finding themselves repeatedly in the media spotlight over questions regarding this land use decision, by the conservancy founder, long time local resident, and former Assistant Deputy Minister of Parks for Alberta, John Kristensen.
Says Kristensen in a recent television interview, “The number of breaches of both federal legislation, Imperial Oil policies, CN policies, Railroad Association of Canada Policies – you can’t even count them.” See Kristensen’s recent interview on Global TV Edmonton. Kristensen’s clip can be found at the 7:49 minute mark of the broadcast.
Kristensen’s story also appeared in a recent edition of The National Post.
Next to noise and vibration, one of the most frequent complaints of people who live in proximity to rail operations is concern about exposure to diesel emissions from locomotives.
Particulate matter from diesel exhaust, known as PM10, can cause eye and respiratory irritation. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs. This form of pollution has been also found to damage plants and discolour buildings.
Source: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/7811356/Air-Pollution-(PDF)
The discoloration can be noted as a very fine, black, sooty residue.
To our readers:
This Bill was tabled today in the House of Commons in Ottawa, and a copy forwarded to us shortly after.
If you live in a community affected by late night railway noise and vibration, this is your opportunity to make a difference.
Call your Member of Parliament, and ask for their support of this legislation.
Rail and Reason 