HR 854
DERAIL Act
Summary
Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally Act or the DERAIL Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to expand the definition of a high-hazard flammable train (HHFT), thereby subjecting more trains to additional safety requirements. Specifically, DOT must expand the definition of HHFT to mean a train transporting one or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid (e.g., benzene residue) or a Class 2 flammable gas (e.g., vinyl chloride) and other materials DOT determines necessary for safety. Current regulations define HHFT as a train transporting 20 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid in a continuous block or 35 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid dispersed throughout the train. The bill also requires railway carriers to report a train derailment that involves a train carrying material toxic by inhalation within 24 hours of the derailment to the National Response Center (NRC), state and local officials, and tribal governments. As background, the NRC is a part of the federally established National Response System. Reports to the NRC activate the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan and the federal government's response capabilities.
Bill status
- Status
- In committee
- Sponsor
- Rep. Christopher R. Deluzio [D-PA-17]
- Cosponsors
- 16
- Policy area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Introduced
- 2025-01-31
- Latest action
- 2025-02-01: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Committee referrals
Recent actions
- 2025-02-01: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
- 2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2025-01-31: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-31: Introduced in House