What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally Act or the DERAIL Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to expand the definition of a high-hazard flammable train (HHFT), thereby subjecting more trains to additional safety requirements. Specifically, DOT must expand the definition of HHFT to mean a train transporting one or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid (e.g., benzene residue) or a Class 2 flammable gas (e.g., vinyl chloride) and other materials DOT determines necessary for safety. Current regulations define HHFT as a train transporting 20 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid in a continuous block or 35 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid dispersed throughout the train. The bill also requires railway carriers to report a train derailment that involves a train carrying material toxic by inhalation within 24 hours of the derailment to the National Response Center (NRC), state and local officials, and tribal governments. As background, the NRC is a part of the federally established National Response System. Reports to the NRC activate the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan and the federal government's response capabilities.
Action Timeline
2025-02-01
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
2025-01-31
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
2025-01-31
Introduced in House
2025-01-31
Introduced in House
Frequently Asked Questions
Did HR.854 pass?
HR.854 is still alive. Current stage: COMMITTEE. Pass likelihood: 23%.
What does HR.854 do?
Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally Act or the DERAIL Act This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to expand the definition of a high-hazard flammable train (HHFT), thereby subjecting more trains to additional safety requirements. Specifically, DOT must expand the definition of HHFT to mean a train transporting one or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid (e.g., benzene residue) or a Class 2 flammable gas (e.g., vinyl chloride) and other materials DOT determines necessary for safety. Current regulations define HHFT as a train transporting 20 …
Who sponsored HR.854?
HR.854 was sponsored by Christopher R. Deluzio (D-Pennsylvania).
Full Bill Text
119 HR 854 IH: Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-01-31 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 854 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 31, 2025 Mr. Deluzio (for himself, Mr. Khanna , Mr. Doggett , Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania , Mr. Boyle of Pennsylvania , Mr. Green of Texas , Ms. Moore of Wisconsin , Mr. Casar , Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania , Ms. Stevens , Ms. Schakowsky , Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania , Mr. Ryan , and Ms. Pettersen ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations to define high-hazard flammable train, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Decreasing Emergency Railroad Accident Instances Locally Act or the DERAIL Act . 2. High-hazard flammable train Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue such regulations as are necessary to amend section 171.8 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to modify the definition of high-hazard flammable train to mean a single train transporting 1 or more loaded tank cars of a Class 3 flammable liquid or a Class 2 flammable gas and other materials the Secretary determines necessary for safety. 3. Reporting of material toxic by inhalation (a) In general Chapter 209 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 20904. Reporting of accidents involving material toxic by inhalation Not later than 24 hours after any train derailment involving a train carrying material toxic by inhalation, the railroad carrier involved in such derailment shall report to the National Response Center, State officials, local officials, and Tribal governments all material toxic by inhalation on such train. . (b) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 209 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 20904. Reporting of accidents involving material toxic by inhalation. .
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