To the editor: A year after Mosier’s disastrous oil train derailment resulted in an explosion, toxic fire and 42,000 gallon oil spill, there are now several bills in the Oregon and U.S. Legislature that all Oregonians should be aware of. Compared to California and Washington, Oregon’s weak laws for oil trains and terminals make it much easier and cheaper to transport potentially dangerous oil through our state.
To the editor: Due to the oil train disaster in Mosier, there has been much uproar among the public, but no one has provided any solutions. Their view is to shut down the rail oil tank car traffic in the Columbia Gorge corridor, without seeking alternatives. I am offering a solution that can resolve safety concerns.
Mike Heiser, a resident of Mosier, had purchased some plants Friday and was just getting ready to put them in the ground around noon when he heard a big crash and the “whoof” of an explosion. He saw smoke west of town, and heard another “whoof.” Heiser drove to where the Mosier exit overpass crosses the train tracks and saw that at least eight tanker cars had derailed about 100 yards from the overpass, and one was burning.
Black railcars stowed on the tracks from Hood River to Mount Hood may resemble oil trains, but fire officials say they’re actually storage cars that formerly held propane and other raw chemicals.
