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Dan Gunderson

North Dakota aims to boost rail safety checks

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The North Dakota Public Service Commission wants to increase rail safety inspections in the state.

By adding two state inspectors North Dakota officials hope to help two federal inspectors keep up with increasing oil shipments and other train traffic, Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak said.

Fedorchak said state inspectors would focus on track safety and railroad equipment safety.

The agency is seeking $500,000 to fund the program. Although the Federal Railroad Administration has sole authority to regulate railroads, state inspectors can work under the federal agency.

"A state program is going to be more nimble and responsive than the large federal agency of the FRA," Fedorchak said. "This is no big knock on the FRA but I think we can see that they've been pretty slow to respond to this changing dynamic industry and the state can step in here and we can direct our resources to the areas of greatest concern."

Minnesota is currently expanding its rail inspection program in response to a growing number of oil trains. The North Dakota Public Service Commission wants to create a state rail safety inspection program.