New York state and federal railroad officials have completed another round of crude oil tank car and rail inspections. As WAMC’s Allison Dunne tells us, the inspections included tracks in the Hudson Valley.
Governor Andrew Cuomo Tuesday announced that the inspections uncovered 93 defects, including seven critical safety defects that required immediate corrective action, and two hazardous materials violations. State and Federal Railroad Administration teams examined 453 crude oil tank cars and some 148 miles of track in these inspections, including about 22 miles of track along the CSX mainline from Newburgh to Haverstraw. The inspectors found one critical defect – deteriorated cross ties along a short section of track – which has since been repaired. The inspectors also found four non-critical defects, including loose switch bolts and insufficient ballast.
