BISMARCK, N.D. — The State of North Dakota will continue its 4-year-old rail safety inspection program for at least two more years, the Associated Press reports.
The program was set to expire in July, but Gov. Doug Burgum signed a bill extending the program through 2021, and state Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner said he believes the program will continue “as long as we are producing oil.”
Two state inspectors supplement inspections by the Federal Railroad Administration on the more than 3,000 miles of track in the state, and have found about 6,000 defects, resulting in more than 90 violations, according to Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak. It began as a reaction to several oil-train derailments.
North Dakota is one of about 30 states performing such inspections, according to the FRA.
