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NVD asks CN for safety brief
Tim Walker
newsroom@nsnews.com
THE Aug. 6 derailment of a CN Rail train, which saw 41,000 litres of sodium hydroxide empty into the Cheakamus River near Squamish, has raised concerns over the safety of freight moving through the District of North Vancouver.
Spurred on by residents frustrated with a lack of communication from CN, council voted unanimously Monday to send a letter requesting that CN's vice-president of operations appear before council to answer questions. Council also voted to invite a representative from the Federal Transportation Safety Board, the industry's regulator, as well as councillors from neighbouring municipalities.
"Given that we have a chemical industry here in the district and given its geographical location, I'd like to know what safety measures are in place," said Coun. Ernie Crist, who tabled the motion on behalf of district resident Liz James. Motioning to James in the audience, he said, "Sometimes we have to be reminded of our responsibility.
"CN certainly has not responded well or addressed sufficiently public concerns on the matter," said Coun. Richard Walton. Coun. Jim Cuthbert expressed concern that safety protocol may have changed with the transfer of operations from BC Rail to CN in 2003-04.
Crist told the North Shore News that of particular concern is the transportation of chlorine from Nexen Inc.'s chemical facility (formerly Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.), which is located east of the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing, in the Dollarton Industrial Park near the corner of Spicer Road and Amherst.
"To the best of my knowledge, they transport by CN," said Crist, "and an accident with chlorine here would be catastrophic."
"Certainly, we want to make sure that wherever those trains travel along the North Shore, CN is doing all they can and more," said Mayor Janice Harris.
published on 09/18/2005
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