Lac Megantic Train Was Carrying Mislabeled Oil, Officials Say

[cali]

Canadian officials say the oil carried by the train that derailed in July in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, flattening the town center and killing 47 people, was mislabeled as being less volatile than it actually was.

In a press release Wednesday morning, Canada's Transportation Safety Board said it had analyzed oil from a part of the 72-car train that didn't explode and found it had the characteristics of a Packing Group II product. However, the oil -- which came from North Dakota -- had been labeled as a Packing Group III product when it was loaded onto the train.

While both groups are considered "dangerous goods," Packing Group II includes liquids like gasoline that explode at a lower temperature than Packing Group III.

The fact the oil was mislabeled "explains in part why the crude ignited so quickly once the train cars were breached," the Transportation Safety Board statement said.

Officials said it's unclear why the crude oil was mislabeled but pointed to inconsistencies in the way North Dakota suppliers and shippers classify hazardous products, according to The Globe and Mail.

<snip>

[HooptieWagon]

1. At the time I stated....

that there was something more than crude oil...either there being an explosive petro-chemical in the tank cars, or that the train hit a gas source. No way that crude would explode.

[Brickbat]

2. It's not clear to me if it was mislabled on the tanks, or on the accompanying paperwork.

[haele]

3. Yay for industry self-regulation.

Just let the companies take care of their own regulations, because of course, they want everything to run smoothly.
Why have independent checks and balances or other documents that create a trail of activity and responsibility? - that just makes paperwork drills, and we all know that gets in the way of productivity.
After all, the bottom line is at stake. Just Do It! That's the American Way.



I'm glad they found some evidence, and I'm truly shocked and sorry for the people of Lac Megantic. There is absolutly no reason that train operator should have been able to take the short-cuts that were taken that lead to the disaster - especially if the regulations were followed on both sides of the border.

Haele