Stop Bomb Trains: Revoke the Permit for Dangerous Shipments of Oil by Train

When I learned that local regulators gave permission to oil companies to haul tanker cars full of crude oil on the railroad tracks a few blocks from my home, I was terrified.

I’ve heard of horrific fiery train disasters involving similar trains -- including one that killed 47 people and incinerated half of the downtown of a small city in Canada. If the same thing happened here, my family and my neighbors would have no chance of surviving.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the oil carried on these trains -- called Bakken crude -- is much more volatile and prone to explosion than other types of crude, making it particularly hazardous when tank cars derail or puncture.

The agency responsible for protecting our community from these dangers -- the Bay Area Air Quality Management District -- recently granted permission to Kinder Morgan to haul oil by train through our community.

The Air Quality Management District conducted the process in secret without notifying the public or conducting a public review.

As a mom, I want to fight for the community my babies are growing up in. Right now, it’s a risk and a gamble to live here, but if enough people sign this petition, I believe we can create a better, safer, and greener community.

And if we win here in the backyard of the oil companies, it’ll set an important precedent that could help stop bomb trains across the state and even across the country.

Please sign my petition to demand the Bay Area Air Quality Management District reverse their decision and hold an open public review process that allows local residents to decide if we want to allow bomb trains in our neighborhoods.