BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Members of North Dakota's congressional delegation say they're encouraged by proposed rules for rail tank cars that carry crude oil.
Sen. John Hoeven and Rep. Kevin Cramer say the issue of rail safety is important, though they also want commonsense rules that are workable.
U.S. regulators are proposing to phase out thousands of older rail tank cars that carry crude. It's the government's response to a series of fiery train crashes over the past year, including one at Casselton.
The Department of Transportation said Wednesday that older DOT-111 tank cars will have to be retrofitted or replaced.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx also said the government's testing of crude oil from the Bakken shows the oil is more likely to ignite if spilled.