Railroad Owner Reacts to McGovern’s Safe Communities Act

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Wednesday, May 06, 2015

GoLocal Worcester News Team

The owner of the Grafton and Upton Railroad isn't pleased with Congressman Jim McGovern's introduction of the Safe Communities Act. As GoLocal Worcester reported on Monday, the act is in response to the Railroad's plan to build a 320,000 LPG storage and transloading facility in Grafton.

"It is disappointing that Representative McGovern would act to jeopardize the reliable supply of a safe, clean domestic energy source now in great demand by the people and businesses in his district, currently being offloaded in much more densely populated Worcester and Westborough via portable carts.  It is in our national security interest to use energy from North Dakota and Pennsylvania to reduce our dependence on the Middle East," G&U Railroad owner Jon Delli Priscoli in a released statement.

The bill introduced by Rep. McGovern would give states and local communities the ability to regulate liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) rail transload facilities that are operated by a rail carrier. 

"Communities ought to have a say in whether or not a hazardous LPG facility is sited in their backyard,” McGovern said. “No other federal, state, or local agency, besides the STB has jurisdiction over a project that could potentially threaten the health and safety of hundreds of people, including hundreds of children.

"The Massachusetts Congressional Delegation voted unanimously for the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995 to bring predictability and stability to interstate commerce.  Cherry picking a vital commodity for special consideration sets a dangerous precedent that violates the spirit of the Act and hinders economic growth in an area that sorely needs it," added Priscoli. 

The full text of the bill has not yet been released. A representative of G&U Railroad told GoLocal that they would have more to say when the full text is available.

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