Dye’s bill designed to cut railroad regulatory red tape signed into law - Small railroads facing burdens on ag oils now have relief

9th Legislative District

Concerns about heavy-handed regulations and their effect on small railroads led to legislation sponsored by Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy.

House Bill 1136, which was signed into law by the governor May 8, tailors the emergency planning requirements for short-line railroads hauling cooking oil, and small quantities of other kinds of low volatile oils, from directives that apply to Bakken crude and other petroleum based oils.

“Two years ago, the Legislature passed comprehensive oil train regulations,” said Dye. “Unfortunately, food grade and mineral oils were inadvertently in...