Course Hero TLMT 381 Final - Running head: Rail...

Running head: Rail Transportation Crude Oil 1
Final Paper
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Rail Transportation Crude Oil 2
Table of Contents
Title Page
Thesis Statement
Introduction
Bakken Crude Oil
Statistical Data
Associated Risk
Compliance
Conclusion
References

Rail Transportation Crude Oil 3
Thesis Statement
The Pacific Northwest and the Nation is exploding with rapid growth and development in
the transportation industry with the movement of crude oil through the rail corridors. This
created a substantial amount of controversy for and against transportation efforts of the rail
system. Many opposing the movement of crude oil request or think that it would ban by rail. Not
all groups or individuals, propose this ideation regarding a complete ban but prefer to suggest a
temporary ban until the risks can be fully accessed. Many of the residents in across the Nation
are affected by the rail industry and the effects of transporting crude oil. A consensus is that the
public’s opinion based on a receptacle basis rather than the perceived intentions that the
government and big corporations want to adapt. If the public's intention is not solely perceived
mistakenly or not it presented itself as unfairly forced practices by large companies without any
consideration of the effects or adverse impacts. This paper will identify and compile a list of
risks associated with rail lines, define perceptions against the rail industry to transport crude oil,
analyze statistical data, compliance resolution resulting in a conclusion of accessing the public
safety built on prevention, preparedness, and response.
Introduction
The Oil and Gas fields in the Montana and North Dakota regions of the plains resulted in
an increased production and development of Bakken Crude in the United States. The drilling,
extracting, and transporting of this oil by rail has become a controversial and argumentative issue
that can produce favorable and unfavorable events. Having a better opportunity to be self-reliant
in the production of oil and gas can ensure that the United States is less likely to rely on imports
from other countries. The Oil and Gas industries created jobs such as drillers, pipe-layers,

Rail Transportation Crude Oil 4
truckers, and the many individuals needed to provide support in the numerous positions in
assistance. Also having a self-dependency and not relying on imports should reflect a lower cost
of prices in regards to the refined products.
Bakken Crude Oil
Within the transportation industry more particular the rail industry, that carry millions of
gallons of Bakken crude oil to refineries cross the United States each week have made safety a
priority in cities along the rail corridors. Much of the crude oil that is acquired and transported by
rail across the United States comes from the Bakken Shale formation, located in North Dakota
and Montana. The Bakken shale is rich in a type of crude oil that is light, low in sulfur and needs
little refining which makes it great to acquire. Unfortunately, with such enrichment in the
commodity department, many individuals tend to ignore or forget how incredibly volatile
Bakken crude is. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) within
the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), prescribed a safety alert stating “that recent