FARGO (KFGO-AM) - Consumer advocate Ralph Nader is calling for a congressional investigation into a series of catastrophic railroad accidents involving North Dakota crude oil.
The most recent accident happened Monday in West Virginia, where 19 tankers derailed and caught fire.
Among other things, Nader wants tougher railroad tanker safety standards and a larger budget for federal railroad inspectors. Nader calls the issue a “national emergency.”
“This is a serious safety issue affecting the American people, men, women, children, schools, where people work, where people travel” Nader said in an interview with KFGO News.
But Nader said he’s not optimistic about the chances of any meaningful changes. “The railroad lobby controls Washington, DC. Transportation Secretary (Anthony) Foxx has really got to go back to his office and put the heat on.”
Nader said Secretary Foxx should be summoned to Fargo to conduct a public hearing. He says Foxx “has got to propose tough railroad tanker standards, as well as increase the congressional budget for railroad inspectors, and give them independence.”