COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE HARLEY O. STAGGERS, West Virginia, Chairman JOHN D. DINGELL, Michigan RICHARDSON PREYER, North Carolina ANTHONY TOBY MOFFETT, Connecticut JIM SANTINI, Nevada ANDREW MAGUIRE, New Jersey EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts THOMAS A. LUKEN, Ohio DOUG WALGREN, Pennsylvania ALBERT GORE, JR., Tennessee BARBARA A. MIKULSKI, Maryland RONALD M. MOTTL, Ohio PHIL GRAMM, Texas AL SWIFT, Washington MICKEY LELAND, Texas JAMES T. BROYHILL, North Carolina WILLIAM E. DANNEMEYER, California Statement of: CONTENTS Dempsey, William H., president, Association of American Railroads. Garner, Elmer, Chief, Railroad Accident Division, Bureau of Accident Investigation, National Transportation Safety Board.. Gossard, William H., transportation safety specialist, Office of Evalua- Harris, William J., Sc. D., vice president of research and test, Association James, Raymond_K., Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation....... Johnston, A. William, vice president of operations and maintenance, Association of American Railroads.. King, James B., Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board...... Santman, Leon D., Director, Materials Transportation Bureau, Federal Parsons, Robert E., Associate Administrator for Research and Develop- ment, Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation.. Association of American Railroads, attachments to Mr. Dempsey's pre- Appendix A-Safety statistics....... 129 National Transportation Safety Board: Letter dated January 15, 1979, from FRA Administrator Sullivan to 60 Letter dated May 18, 1979, from DOT Secretary Adams to Chairman Letter dated February 21, 1980, from FRA Administrator Sullivan to Transportation Department, attachments to Mr. Sullivan's prepared State participation—A grant-in-aid program involving States in rail Appendix I-Duties of railroad safety inspector. RAILROAD SAFETY TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1980 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND COMMERCE, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE The subcommittee met at 9:35 a.m., pursuant to notice, in room 2322, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. James J. Florio, chairman, presiding. Mr. FLORIO. The subcommittee will come to order. I would like to welcome our witnesses here today to discuss a matter of major interest to us all-the safety of our railroad system. A number of tragic accidents in the past few years has made this a matter of great public concern. Fortunately, some progress is being made that should prevent the recurrence of the tragic results of some of the past accidentsparticularly through the tank car retrofit program. However, there are other types of tank cars not covered by the program that may present equivalent dangers. It has been suggested that a number of serious accidents are caused by human factors, including alcohol abuse. We hope to focus on ways, preferably voluntary, that can cut down the number of these tragedies. Other factors can also contribute to accidents. Bad track condition caused by deferred maintenance-common on marginal railroads-is one example. In fact, there is a positive correlation between a railroad's profitability and its safety record. It may be that one of the best ways to insure safety is to give carriers the tools to better their financial performance-perhaps through elimination of much of the economic regulations that have stifled the industry. The subcommittee also intends to review the administration's requested authorization for the Federal Railroad Administration's Office of Safety along with some proposed legislative changes; the concerns of labor about the safety of railroad employees and their suggested legislative changes. I would like to welcome our first witness, Mr. John M. Sullivan, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration of the Department of Transportation. (1) |