As Introduced
135th General Assembly
Regular Session S. R. No. 196
2023-2024
Senator Reineke
A RESOLUTION
To urge the United States Congress to amend the 1
Railway Safety Act of 2023 to require rail 2
carriers to secure all rail cars carrying solid 3
waste to prevent littering and to create a study 4
committee to analyze the benefits of securing 5
rail cars carrying solid waste. 6
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
WHEREAS, On March 1, 2023, U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and 7
J.D. Vance from Ohio introduced the Railway Safety Act of 2023, 8
which creates new safety requirements and procedures for trains 9
carrying hazardous materials; and 10
WHEREAS, The Railway Safety Act does not specifically 11
require rail carriers to secure loads consisting of solid waste; 12
and 13
WHEREAS, Unsecured solid waste emitted from trains causes 14
pollution and other threats to public health and safety in 15
communities throughout Ohio, which is of considerable concern in 16
light of the events that unfolded on February 3, 2023, in East 17
Palestine, Ohio; and 18
WHEREAS, Costs to cleanup solid waste along and in the 19
vicinity of rail lines are borne by local governments and 20
individual property owners in Ohio; and 21
S. R. No. 196 Page 2
As Introduced
WHEREAS, Solid waste materials that are emitted from trains 22
create great uncertainty among Ohio residents living in the 23
vicinity of rail lines and affects their health, safety, and 24
overall quality of life; now therefore be it 25
RESOLVED, That we, the members of the Senate of the 135th 26
General Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge the United States 27
Congress to amend the Railway Safety Act of 2023 to require rail 28
carriers to secure all rail cars carrying solid waste to ensure 29
that such waste is not deposited on the lands over which trains 30
travel; and be it further 31
RESOLVED, That we, the members of the Senate of the 135th 32
General Assembly of the State of Ohio, urge the United States 33
Congress to create a study committee to analyze the benefits of 34
securing rail cars carrying solid waste; and be it further 35
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly 36
authenticated copies of this resolution to the President Pro 37
Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker 38
and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, each 39
member of the Ohio Congressional delegation, and the news media 40
of Ohio. 41