The prepare’s operator, BNSF, has lobbied aggressively in opposition to security rules in recent times.
A BNSF prepare carrying ethanol derailed and caught fireplace early Thursday morning in Raymond, Minnesota, forcing residents residing close to the crash web site to evacuate.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has confronted backlash for responding inadequately to the catastrophe in East Palestine, Ohio, said the Federal Railroad Administration is “on the bottom’ in Raymond following the derailment.
“At current no accidents or fatalities have been reported,” mentioned Buttigieg. “We’re monitoring intently as extra particulars emerge.”
BNSF, which is managed by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, has lobbied aggressively in opposition to enhanced rail security rules on the state and federal ranges in recent times.
An OpenSecrets analysis printed earlier this month discovered that BNSF has spent almost $13 million on state-level lobbying since 2003. BNSF’s dad or mum firm can also be among the many rail business’s prime federal lobbying spenders over the previous twenty years, based on federal disclosures.
BNSF mentioned in a press release that greater than 20 prepare automobiles “carrying blended freight together with ethanol and corn syrup” derailed in Raymond on Thursday.
The wreck and ensuing blaze forced native authorities to subject evacuation orders for individuals residing inside a half-mile of the positioning. The Minnesota Division of Transportation mentioned a close-by freeway was additionally closed as a result of fireplace.
The native sheriff’s division mentioned in a press release that “no journey is suggested to the town of Raymond” as emergency employees try and comprise the hearth.
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