New Canadian Regulations on Transport of Hazardous
Commodities
New regulations were recently adopted prohibiting use of
certain tank cars for transportation of hazardous commodities to, from, and
within Canada. While Norfolk Southern has very few loaded shipments into
Canada, the regulation also impacts empty residue cars returning to Canada.
Consequently there is a potential for cars in transit about the time the
regulation goes into effect to become "trapped" on Norfolk Southern and unable
to return to Canada. We are in the process of implementing systems to identify
and hold all such cars so as to comply with the regulation and will set up
processes to contact shippers or car owners for alternate routing of cars caught
by the new regulation. However, we urge shippers to review the new regulation
(Canadian Protective Direction 34, issued April 28th ; http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/orders-directives-directions-letters-7497.html)
and remove tank cars not in compliance with the regulation from service so as
to preclude unnecessary delay of cars once the regulation takes effect.