Union Pacific request to haul liquefied natural gas draws criticism

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Russell Hubbard

Union Pacific Railroad has applied for permission to haul liquefied natural gas, which would add another combustible cargo to a U.S. rail network already being criticized for transporting ethanol and crude oil through populated areas.

The Omaha-based railroad said the application for a permit from the Federal Railroad Administration is in response to a request for liquefied natural gas transportation from an existing customer. Union Pacific operates 32,000 miles of track in the western United States, which is home to many natural gas production and storage installations.

If Union Pacific is granted the permit, it would be a first. The Association of American Railroads said none of the other six Class I freight railroads are hauling liquefied natural gas.

The permit application coincides with a major bump in railway ethanol and crude oil cargo, which has attracted heavy opposition after a fatal oil train explosion in Canada in 2013 and three oil train fires so far this year in the United States and one in Canada.

FULL story at link.


THE WORLD-HERALD

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/money/railroads/union-pacific-request-to-haul-liquefied-natural-gas-draws-criticism/article_ea761863-bd80-511d-8f87-e60245daa492.html

[HoosierCowboy]

1. An ISIS Approved Method...

....of destroying an American city without all the added expense of building nuclear weapons.

[Orrex]

2. Hell yeah.

Liquid natural gas doesn't explode just a little, that's for damn sure.

Might be less of a lingering spillage issue, but only because the LNG will blow up all the things right off the bat.

[Fred Sanders]

3. Seems like there is no concern at all of terrorist attacks on mobile Oil and Gas bombs.

Where is the fear, so beloved by Americans?

[ColesCountyDem]

4. 23 Union Pacific trains daily pass within 300 feet of my house.

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am by this news.