BY MIKE MONTEMARANO
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TRENTON – Gov. Chris Christie recently vetoed a bill which would have mandated that the scheduling of trains carrying crude oil from North Dakota’s Bakken region be made known to local first responders, and that each borough had a contingency and cleanup plan in the event of an oil train derailment. The veto was made in concern that having knowledge of these schedules would pose a risk for terroristic targeting of the trains carrying the extremely volatile substance.
A coalition of environmental groups publicly demonstrated their opposition to this decision on July 19. These groups included the Coalition to Ban Unsafe Oil Trains, New Jersey Food and Water Watch and the Sierra Club, among others.
Currently, legislators opposed to Christie’s veto include Democratic Senators Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck and Robert Gordon of Fair Lawn, as well as state Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle of Englewood.
One of the demonstation’s organizers, Paula Rogovin, sees risk in the public lacking knowledge about reacting to the risk of derailment: “Gov. Christie considers it a ‘security risk’ to mandate plans in reaction to these oil trains. The real security risk comes from denying first responders and the public information about what to do.”
Weinberg was cited by The Record as stating that the oil cars are parked in an unfenced Teaneck area, and very clearly labeled and accessible to “anyone who cares,” and are prone to terroristic threats regardless of whether scheduling is made evident to local authorities or not.
The coalition of environmental groups hope to convince New Jersey legislature to override the governor’s veto, and assembled on the Cedar Lane bridge in Teaneck.
Trains carrying Bakken crude oil have been cited by environmentalists as unsafe and outdated, and their history of derailments and explosions, which have been devastating for both public health and the environment, has convinced many that the trains either must be taken off the rails or made much safer. Currently, these trains travel along both the Oradell and Ramapo reservoirs on the CSX line, which supply drinking water to hundreds of thousands in the area. The trains can be seen traversing local Northern Valley communities of Northvale, Norwood, Harrington Park, Closter and Haworth before heading into Bergenfield, New Milford and Teaneck, near the municipality’s border with Englewood, and beyond.
In 2013, a train carrying Bakken oil operated by Canada Pacific Railway derailed, incinerating a large swath of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, and killing 47 nearby people. Other trains carrying Bakken oil have derailed throughout the United States, typically in rural areas.
“Gov. Christie’s unconscionable veto of the oil train bill is not only a sellout to the environment, but also our safety. His actions are reckless and dangerous since we have over 30 oil bomb trains per week threatening our communities and water supplies,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “These trains carrying Bakken crude oil are a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. Many of the bridges they cross are dilapidated and falling apart. If we were to have an accident here in New Jersey, such as in Newark, Teaneck or Trenton, it wouldn’t be a disaster; it would be a tragedy threatening the lives of thousands.”
Proactive efforts to protect local communities from any mishap on the rails has included specific training for local first responders and inter-governmental dialogue, including a notable 2015 meeting between local leaders and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker. Former U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett also held a 2016 forum between federal transportation authorities and local officials and first responders to discuss the issue, that was criticized at the time for barring the public from participating.
Environmental activists participating in the recent demonstration firstly wish to address the controversial ruling on trains carrying Bakken crude oil, but many also seek ways to incentivize the pursuit of relying on 100 percent renewable energy.