Monday night’s presentation of the state’s Ethanol Transportation Study in Chelsea made one point abundantly clear: the railroads cannot easily be stopped from transporting materials through the region.
The options available, however, are somewhat limited and straightforward.
A vigorous public conversation represents one available tool – something that has taken place over roughly two years. The other option is extensive preparation, a theme emphasized repeatedly throughout the newly released report.
The state commissioned this study from the Department of Transportation (DOT) after Global Petroleum of Revere proposed shipping large quantities of Ethanol via commuter rail tracks. The study examined the Ethanol issue across Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, Everett and Revere – marking the first time Ethanol trains would travel through this densely populated eastern region.
Following numerous public meetings and extensive community input – particularly from concerned residents – the DOT presented its draft study Monday at the Chelsea Collaborative. The audience included participants from Waltham, Charlestown, Somerville, Chelsea and Revere. Many attendees expressed dissatisfaction with both the report’s findings and the limited options available, given that railroads are primarily controlled by the federal government, which itself has minimal authority to prevent hazardous material transport.
“We’re not ready,” explained Mark Pare of the state Department of Fire Services, who served on the study committee. “I mean, this is new. We’re ready in small doses. You plan for a car or truck accident and fire, but not a 100-car rail train.”
This concern led to one of the study’s major recommendations – the document carries informational value but no enforcement authority – to acquire more alcohol-resistant foam. This foam is essential for fighting Ethanol fires, since water proves ineffective.
“The Massachusetts Fire Services should work with the City fire departments and other emergency personnel to analyze the regional capabilities needed to battle an Ethanol train fire, including the amount of alcohol resistant foam that would be required,” stated the recommendations. “A plan should then be developed to put those capabilities in place.”
The report also identified concerns about commuter rail track accessibility, with many sections located beneath bridges or in protected ditches.
A further recommendation called for identifying critical facilities along potential routes and creating emergency response plans – a responsibility assigned to local fire departments across the affected cities. The report noted that the MIT Nuclear Reactor in Cambridge represents one such critical facility near the tracks.
The study recommended that Global collaborate with local communities on safety and security planning and address community concerns. Additionally, Global should revise its facility’s security plan to account for risks associated with storing and offloading Ethanol at the terminal.
In total, the study offered eight recommendations for Ethanol transportation, three for Ethanol storage, and six for emergency responses to Ethanol incidents.
Nevertheless, much of the report focused on what cannot be accomplished.
The study noted that courts have consistently rejected attempts to restrict railroad operations through zoning regulations, and that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) maintains primary responsibility for investigating safety procedures. Much of this work remains confidential due to security considerations.
For instance, any safety and security plan Global develops for potential Ethanol train shipments would not be available for public review.
The study highlighted current Ethanol shipping practices within Massachusetts – showing that hundreds of trains already operate without incident through the western and central portions of the state. Most Ethanol trains currently travel hundreds of miles from the Midwest on the CSX line to Worcester, then proceed to an off-loading facility in downtown Providence. From there, Ethanol is transported to Boston by barge – with most of it traveling down the Chelsea Creek to petroleum companies such as Global.
This fact had previously received little attention, and it suggests the company seeks to extend the train route to Boston and bypass Providence – thereby eliminating the need for barge transport to Boston.
A straightforward question from an audience member during the two-hour discussion captured the central concern: “Who can stop this?” he asked.
This simple question lacked an easy answer and received no attention in the study itself.
The study determined that 191,992 people across the six cities reside within the half-mile evacuation zone – the mandatory zone following an ethanol-induced rail car explosion. Revere has 27,216 residents in this zone, while Chelsea has 31,119. Nearly all of eastern Revere falls within the zone, as does most of Chelsea except Prattville.
Public comments are being accepted via e-mail (HYPERLINK “mailto:[email protected]” [email protected]) through Thursday, March 21st. The Final Report will be submitted to the Senate and House Ways and Means Committees on March 23rd.
The complete report is accessible online at mass.gov/MassDOT/EthanolSafety.