Congressmen Posey sent a letter to the head of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Acting-Director Tristan Brown on August 15, regarding the threat to the residents of his district in the event of a Haz Mat breach on the Florida East Coast rail route. Not only would such a breach threaten the lives of residents, but it would also threaten the health of the Indian River Lagoon.
As the country observed during the East Palestine, OH train derailment, toxic chemicals can impact people’s health and can pollute a river killing fish and plant life. As Posey’s letter states, “…the Florida East Coast Railway Line transits through the Indian River Lagoon which has been designated as one of the most bio-diverse estuaries… The economic lives of Spacecoast and Treasure Coast families are inextricably woven with the health of this precious natural resource.”
The congressman also pointed out the FEC corridor is the only one in the country where trains exceeding 79 mph share the tracks with freight trains carrying hazardous materials. FEC transports Liquefied Propane Gas, Anhydrous Ammonia, and other toxic chemicals. Thirty-two trains per day at 110 mph exponentially increase the likelihood of a rail accident involving both passenger and freight trains.
He is asking the PHMSA acting director to study the “potential and probability for hazardous material releases” and how the agency will protect the lives and livelihoods of residents along the route and the lagoon. Local, state, and federal agencies have spent millions on protection and mitigation of the Indian River Lagoon.
“As we say at the Alliance – a Haz Mat breach along the Lagoon will make the catastrophe at East Palestine look like a picnic! Brightline going 110 mph will increase the likelihood of accidents and, in turn, the chances of a derailment and breach,” added Susan Mehiel, Coordinator of the Alliance for Safe Trains.
“From too many at-grade crossings to the tracks proximity to the Ft. Pierce Nuclear Power Plant and the single-track bridge, no one has done a comprehensive threat assessment of what these speed trains will cause,” commented Mehiel. “Governor DeSantis needs to recognize the threats and direct his Department of Transportation to stop this nightmare before it happens!”
