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Danger lurks on rail lines, roadways
Beating the heat at Diefenbaker!
SCAN WITH TO REVEAL PHOTOS
New protocol provides first responders with info on dangerous goods traversing Delta BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
sgyarmati@delta-optimist.com
PHOTO BY
GORD GOBLE
Ayla Hamilton-James of Ladner gives Kolt Hewlett-Kaufman of Tsawwassen a boost to the water gun while cooling off at the Rotary WaterWorks in Diefenbaker Park Wednesday afternoon. Sunny skies and warm temperatures are in the forecast into next week.
Delta is preparing itself as the chances increase for a dangerous material spill by truck or rail. A new protocol between the municipality and rail companies is giving local responders a better grasp of the dangerous goods coming through Delta, said deputy fire Chief Paul Schofield. “What we have is a confidentiality agreement with the rail industry for all rail operating in Delta, and also with Transport Canada as well. So we receive regular information on the transportation of dangerous goods in the community,” he said. The protocol was a recommendation from Delta last year on rail safety issues. It followed last summer’s tragic train accident in of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, where a 72-car train loaded with crude oil derailed, causing a massive explosion and fire that killed 47 people. Afterward, a Senate committee, already looking into the transportation of hazardous goods by rail, released a sweeping report, urging the government to launch an independent review of rail safety. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities would establish
PHOTO BY
SANDOR GYARMATI
Delta is home to the country’s largest marine terminal, which means dangerous goods regularly travel through the community by both rail and road. its own National Municipal Rail Safety Working Group, which gathered feedback from communities, including Delta. Noting Delta is host to the country’s largest marine terminal, Mayor Lois Jackson submitted a list of recommendations, including identifying the most frequently transported dangerous goods and focusing training on dealing with those commodities. See GOODS page 3
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