More than 50 demonstrators on Sunday protested trains carrying Bakken crude oil through Bergen County, The Record reported.
BOGOTA -- More than 50 demonstrators on Sunday protested trains carrying Bakken crude oil through Bergen County, The Record reported.
Busy Sunday for Clean Water! We also marched with activists in Bogota to #BanUnsafeOilTrains #OilTrains #NewJersey pic.twitter.com/vW60EQf1IE
-- CleanWaterAction NJ (@CleanWaterNJ) January 31, 2016
The protesters said the trains threatened their safety and environment.
They marched to the post office, where local officials, state lawmakers and activists spoke out against the trains. Assemblyman Tim Eustace asked the crowd to support legislation to make the trains safer.
Oil train explosions in Quebec and North Dakota prompted the state legislature in June to take measures to prepare in case of an accident in New Jersey.
One bill would require rail companies carrying 200,000 gallons or more of petroleum of petroleum-based products, or 20,000 gallons of other hazardous substances, to submit spill response plans to the state.
Another would require companies controlling the right-of-way on bridges to file copies of bridge inspection reports with the state.
The Coalition to Ban Unsafe Oil Trains and 350NJ, a climate group, organized the March Sunday and several other protests in Bergen County in recent months. Oil trains travel through several Bergen County towns.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
