Assessing Regulatory Compliance and Community Air Pollution Impacts of Crude Oil by Rail Transport in Baltimore City, Maryland

Details

• Creators:
  Smith, Genee S
• Corporate Creators:
  Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health. Texas A&M Transportation Institute ; Johns Hopkins University
• Corporate Contributors:
  United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology ; United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Air pollution
  • Best practices
  • Compliance
  • Crude oil
  • Environmental impacts
  • Freight trains
  • Lessons learned
  • Regulations
  • Residential areas
  • Railroad transportation
  More +
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  United States ; Maryland
• Edition:
  Final Report: February 2018–June 2019
• Corporate Publisher:
  Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health. Texas A&M Transportation Institute
• Abstract:
  Increased fracking since 2011 has resulted in the transport of crude oil by rail (CBR) to refineries and ports across the United States. Previous derailments of trains transporting CBR have resulted in dozens of deaths and polluted air, soil, and waterways. A derailment of a train carrying crude oil in Baltimore, Maryland, could adversely impact roughly 165,000 residents. This project sought to deliver an evidence-based characterization of CBR within Baltimore City. Specifically, the researchers (a) characterized the periodicity and regulatory compliance of CBR train transit; (b) determined the temporal relation between CBR train traffic and volatile organic compound emissions at residential sites proximal to CBR corridors; and (c) developed lessons learned and best practices suitable for other U.S. communities affected by CBR. This affordable, efficient, and adaptable protocol to understand CBR patterns can supplement the efforts of Baltimore City activists and promote community health and self-determination across the United States.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  69A3551747128
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/57541/dot_57541_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 859.27 KB]
• Collection(s):
  University Transportation Centers ; US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:410f953aa2e9e473b3d2cee6552d286663c34ce54664e8bc3c3ade37b5ffa1a811458ae1b326030240843123fcb68bf6f8d5adb819fa8bf457ac0bd57efeb7c1