SALT LAKE CITY — Today, the Coalition for a Safe Olympics called on Union Pacific Railroad to reroute its trains carrying hazardous material around Salt Lake City during the Olympics in February, reports a coalition press release.
The Coalition, comprised of Utah State elected officials, the Teamsters, other unions, environmental and railroad safety groups noted that Union Pacific as thus far refused to halt, reroute or even curtail its hazardous materials shipments during the Olympics. Union Pacific’s refusal to reroute hazardous shipments stands in stark contrast to all other hazardous material transporters in the region, all of whom have agreed to limit or restrict their shipment of hazardous cargo. Even the Salt Lake City International Airport will halt all traffic during opening galas of the Olympics. Union Pacific trains run within blocks of major Olympic events.
“Union Pacific’s arrogant refusal to reroute its trains during the Olympics is a slap in the face to the people of Salt Lake at a time when the eyes of the world are on our city,” said Ralph Taurone, Vice President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 222 in Salt Lake City.
Since the September 11th attack on our nation, security concerns at the Olympics have drawn international attention. With more than 70,000 visitors and 3,700 athletes and officials from 80 nations scheduled to visit our community, the Coalition called on Union Pacific to address the threat posed on its rail system whether by accident or terrorist intent. According to a study by RailWatch, a safety watchdog group, a train accident happens every 90 minutes. Every two weeks, there is a train accident involving the release of hazardous materials that results in the evacuation of the surrounding area.
Union Pacific Railroad, the nation’s largest HAZMAT carrier, operates trains through Salt Lake City not far from The Gateway and Olympic Legacy Plaza. Though trainings have taken place to respond in the event of a catastrophe, there are preventive measures that must be taken to protect the community.
The Coalition urged the Utah Union Pacific to restrict hazardous material transportation by rail through Salt Lake City during the 2002 Olympic games. In 2000, Union Pacific Railroad accounted for 40 percent of the Federal Railroad Administration’s top ten fines involving hazardous waste inspections for violations including improper shipping papers and inadequate HAZMAT documentation.
The Coalition called upon the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command today to take these immediate steps to ensure that the Olympics are as safe as they can possibly be.
1. Require Union Pacific to reroute trains carrying hazardous materials or munitions during the Olympic Games, unless delivering it directly to Salt Lake City;
2. Require that all Union Pacific trains or other Railroads carrying munitions or hazardous materials to Salt Lake City during the time of the Olympic games stop only during the late night and early morning hours, when the fewest possible number of residents and visitors are at Olympic venues;
3. Require all trains that have not been thoroughly inspected and all cargo inventoried within 100 miles of Salt Lake City and Ogden be stopped at least 30 miles outside for such a screening;
4. Require Union Pacific and any other Railroad to provide armed personnel to travel on all trains carrying munitions or hazardous materials to Salt Lake City or Ogden during the period of the Olympic games;
5. Require all Union Pacific trains or any other Railroads passing through Salt Lake City or Ogden to submit a detailed, notarized inventory of all cargo and personnel aboard the trains at the time they pass through Salt Lake City or Ogden;
6. All inventories and screening reports must be submitted to the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command before trains are permitted to pass through the area.
This action will improve the security of the city and demonstrate to the world that it has taken every precaution necessary to ensure a safe and secure Olympics.