SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- After meeting with the Coalition
for a Safe Olympics last week, the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command demanded
that Union Pacific Railroad, and all other railroads, reroute all trains
hauling hazardous materials around Salt Lake City during the Olympic games.
The Coalition, comprised of Utah State elected officials, the Teamsters
union, other unions, and environmental and railroad safety groups noted that
Union Pacific had refused to halt, reroute or even curtail its hazardous
materials shipments during the Olympics, despite the fact that all other
HAZMAT transporters were addressing similar safety concerns.
"We are both proud and thankful that the Utah Olympic Public Safety
Command and the Utah Department of Transportation took our concerns very
seriously and agreed to take immediate action," said Ralph Taurone, Vice
President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Secretary-
Treasurer of Teamsters Local 222 in Salt Lake City, which represents 3,000
Utah workers. "By forcing Union Pacific to reroute toxic and explosive
materials around Salt Lake City during the games, our members, neighbors and
visitors can feel more protected from a possible railroad catastrophe."
"The Olympic Public Safety Command has done a tremendous job ensuring that
safety will be the number one priority at the Winter Olympics this year," said
Utah Senator Ed Mayne. "They have addressed threats posed by air, land, food,
mail and now by rail. Utah residents, visitors and athletes can feel more
confident now that such serious safety precautions have been implemented."
Since the September 11th attack on our nation, security concerns at the
Olympics have drawn international attention. More than 170,000 visitors daily
and 3,700 athletes and officials from 80 nations are scheduled to visit Salt
Lake City. The Coalition called upon Union Pacific to address the threat
posed on its rail system whether by accident or terrorist intent. After Union
Pacific refused to do so, the Safety Command compelled the company to comply.
According to Railwatch, a nonprofit public education organization, there
is a train accident every 90 minutes in this country. Every two weeks there
is a train accident involving hazardous materials forcing an evacuation.
Union Pacific Railroad, the nation's largest HAZMAT carrier, operates
trains through Salt Lake City not far from The Gateway and Olympic Legacy
Plaza, where thousands of people from across the world will gather to
celebrate the opening and closing Olympic galas.
SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
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Related links:
http://www.teamster.org
CONTACT:
David Cameron of the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, +1-626-573-9453
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