-Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) today proposed a bill that would provide resources and training to first responders who handle crude oil train derailments, Reuters reports. Casey said his bill would create a FEMA task force that would make recommendations to Congress for training and resources.
-Meanwhile, the Federal Railroad Administration is requiring the owners of approximately 6,000 tank cars to replace unauthorized valves found to have caused oil leaks. Via FuelFix, the agency found the valves were used in a January incident in which oil leaked from a train carrying crude from North Dakota to Tesoro’s Anacortes, Wash., refinery. The replacements are not expected to disrupt oil shippers’ operations.
-Plastics firm A. Schulman Inc. has agreed to acquire Citadel Plastics for $800 million. Via the Wall Street Journal, A. Schulman cited Citadel’s presence in the oil and gas market among others as a reason for the move. Citadel is a provider of engineered composites in the oil and gas sector.
-Chevron is transporting the massive platform for its Big Foot development project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Via Rigzone, the platform was successfully floated through the La Quinta Ship Channel in Corpus Christi, Texas, Friday. The platform has an onboard drilling rig and production capacity of 75,000 barrels per day of oil and 25 million barrels per day of natural gas.
