DOT & PHMSA Issue Safety Advisory Regarding Bakken Crude Oil Transportation

May 12, 2014

On May 7, the Department of Transportation issued an Emergency Restriction/Prohibition Order regarding the transportation of Bakken crude oil. In addition, PHMSA issued a safety advisory to encourage offerors and rail carriers to take additional precautionary measures to enhance the safe shipment of bulk quantities of Bakken crude oil by rail throughout the U.S. PHMSA previously issued a safety alert to the public, emergency responders, and shippers about the potential high volatility of the crude oil being shipped from the Bakken oil shale patch in Montana and North Dakota.