Ethanol Transportation Safety Study

The following is from MassDOT:

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will
be holding a Neighborhood Meeting for the Study of the Safety Impacts
of Ethanol Transportation by Rail thorough Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea,
Everett, Somerville, & Revere.

The Neighborhood Meeting will be held on:
March 11, 2013 – 6:30 to 8:30 pm Argenziano School – Cafetorium 290
Washington Street, Somerville, MA

The meeting will begin with presentation on the progress of the study.
The presentation will include the project background, evaluation of
public safety issues related to transporting ethanol by train through
the cities of Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Somerville, &
Revere, and the draft study findings. The presentation is scheduled to
last approximately 45 minutes and will be followed by a question and
answer period.

Background The MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning is
undertaking this safety study in response to Section 24 of Chapter 242
off the Acts of 2012, passed by thee State Legislature, which charges
MassDOT with executing a study on the public safety issues associated
with ethanol transport by rail.. The text of Section 244 is shown
below.

“Section 24. Notwithstanding any general law or special law or rule or
regulation to the contrary, the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation shall commission a study to determine the impact on the
public safety of transporting ethanol by train through the cities of
Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett and Revere. Public safety issues
to be studied shall included, but not be limited to, the proximity to
residences, elderly housing complexes, schools, hospitals, health care
facilities and other population and demographic characteristics and
emergency response capabilities. The report shall be completed not
later than 6 months after the effective date of this act, and copies
of the report shall be provided to thee house and senate committees on
ways and means, the executive office of public safety and security and
the department of environmental protection. The department of
environmental protection shall not issue a license under chapter 91 of
the General Laws for the transportation of ethanol through the cities
of Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett and Revere until it has
received the report.”

At the request of the City of Somerville and the study’s technical
advisory group, and due to the fact that it is located in the center
of the other cities named in the legislation and the rail lines in
question pass through it, the study area has been expanded to include
the city of Somerville. The final report is due to the Legislature on
March 23, 2013.

Additional Information
This meeting location is accessible to people with disabilities.
Spanish interpretation services will be provided at the meeting. To
request any additional language assistance, American Sign Language
interpreters, assistive listening devices, handouts in alternative
formats, or information on the meeting, please contact Paul Nelson by
March 6th at: paul.nelson@state.ma.us or (857) 368-8867.

For further information on the Study of the Safety Impacts of Ethanol
Transportation by Rail through Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett,
Somerville, & Revere, please refer to the project website at
http://www.mass.gov/massdot/ethanolsafety.