Preparing for LNG by Rail Tank Car: A Review of a U.S. DOT Safety Research, Testing, and Analysis Initiative (2021) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 45-56
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From page 45... ...
45 This chapter examines the completeness and quality of 6 of the 15 tasks in the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration–Federal Railroad Administration (PHMSA–FRA) Task Force initiative that are relevant for shipments of any hazardous materials cargo by rail, including liquefied natural gas (LNG)
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From page 46... ...
46 PREPARING FOR LNG BY RAIL TANK CAR unloading at marine ports and on cargo tank motor vehicles, and safety and security in transportation and at fixed facilities.1 The incident data included six incidents reported between 1984 and March 2020 that occurred while loading or unloading LNG cargo transported by truck and involved two hospitalizations and no fatalities. In one instance, there was a significant fire, though the tank did not fail.2 The Task Force interviewed subject-matter experts at the PHMSA Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)
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TASKS RELEVANT TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORT BY RAIL 47 Observations About Completeness and Quality As a potential source of releases, loading, unloading, and transloading activities warrant evaluation. Indeed, the assessment of non-accident releases is central to meeting the objective of reducing the risk of transporting LNG by rail.
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48 PREPARING FOR LNG BY RAIL TANK CAR thereof. There is no single required methodology for the risk analysis in recognition of variation among railroads and their operating environments so long as the methodology is documented for the route to be analyzed.
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TASKS RELEVANT TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORT BY RAIL 49 shipment configuration may represent different consequences during an acci dent. For example, it is plausible that an LNG release during a worstcase scenario event involving a manifest train could be worse than a unit train scenario because of the potential interactions and effects between multiple hazardous materials.
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50 PREPARING FOR LNG BY RAIL TANK CAR comply with Circular OT-55 and have integrated it as the basis of their training, self-audits, and daily operations. Supplementing the site visits, the agencies reviewed the results from a simulation-based analysis, using the Train Energy and Dynamics Simulator,8 of the proposed route for LNG between the origin in Pennsylvania and the destination in New Jersey under a 2019 special permit to compare the 50 mph limit for a key train to the likely speed traveled in accordance with the maximum authorized speed.
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TASKS RELEVANT TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORT BY RAIL 51 that was authorized under the 2019 special permit for LNG by tank car between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The objective of the task is to understand the relative potential exposure of people using an assessment of the rail route (i.e., RCRMS)
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52 PREPARING FOR LNG BY RAIL TANK CAR To remedy the lack of information about the volume of LNG cargo, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics will modify its existing survey of tank car production facilities14 to include data collection on the number of DOT-113 tank cars built and production capacity, which will assist PHMSA in assessing exposure and potential exposure from LNG-laden tank cars beginning in fall 2022.15 PHMSA will repeat this analysis when the shipper and rail carrier operat ing under the Pennsylvania–New Jersey special permit identify a specific route. The model of modal conversion between LNG by truck and rail uses inputs from the tasks on Worst-Case Scenarios Model and Safety and Security Risk Route Assessment (i.e., scoring from the RCRMS software)
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TASKS RELEVANT TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORT BY RAIL 53 ensure that the appropriate level of awareness, training, and resources were available to keep themselves and the public safe. The Task Force divided their work into two emergency response-oriented tasks.
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54 PREPARING FOR LNG BY RAIL TANK CAR associations.17 This meeting resulted in a report, the HM Roundtable Report, with recommendations focused on planning, prevention, response, training, standard of care, funding, and information sharing. The HM Roundtable Report included a notable recommendation for the formation of a federal interagency hazardous materials training group consisting of participants from PHMSA, FRA, the U.S.
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TASKS RELEVANT TO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORT BY RAIL 55 While the pandemic has slowed the speed at which the Task Force has been able to validate emergency response needs and opinions, they have continued to do so by using virtual forums such as the HM Roundtable. Observations About Completeness and Quality While there is a body of knowledge and experience pertaining to the transportation of LNG by marine tanker and cargo tank truck, there is little North American precedent in training materials and incident experience on the transport of LNG by rail.
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From page 56... ...
56 PREPARING FOR LNG BY RAIL TANK CAR documents, data, maps, and educational materials would greatly benefit the emergency responder community. PHMSA intends to ensure ease of access through a dedicated LNG webpage at the PHMSA site for this purpose.
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