BAKKEN: Beware crude dangers

As oil prices rise, the number of Bakken crude-carrying trains in North Idaho is predicted to increase from about three per day to as many as 25.

Bakken crude oil trains travel too close to our schools, businesses and pedestrian sidewalks. Bakken crude is more flammable during transport than traditional crude oil. Tanker cars full of Bakken crude often explode in huge fireballs when trains derail. One of those explosions killed 47 people in Quebec. Other explosions have caused evacuations.

Oil producers can remove many of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the oil that result in these disasters. At the rate trains are derailing these days, removing VOCs makes sense. Please urge Idaho’s congressional delegation and the railroad industry to push for tougher federal Bakken crude conditioning requirements than are in place now.

Let’s keep fireballs out of Idaho.

NANCY GERTH

Sagle