Lac-Mégantic Tragedy, Who to Blame?

[Oscar]

Lac-Mégantic Tragedy, Who to Blame?

Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 19:30:21 -0500

From: Michael Milillo <milillomichael@gmail.com>

To: Honourable Stephan Harper, Prime Minister of Canada <pm@pm.gc.ca>

CC: Right Hon Stephen Harper, House of Commons <stephen.harper@parl.gc.ca>, Honourable Pauline Marois, Premier of Québec <premier.ministre@cex.gouv.qc.ca>, Honourable Colette Roy Laroche, mairesse de Lac-Mégantic <mairie@ville.lac-megantic.qc.ca>, Rt Hon Jacques Chagnon, President of the National Assembly of Québec <courrier.president@assnat.qc.ca>, Deputy Stéphane Bédard, National Assembly of Québec <cabinet@sct.gouv.qc.ca>, Deputy Ghislain Bolduc, National Assembly of Québec <gbolduc-mega@assnat.qc.ca>, Dr Réjean Hébert, Santé et des Services <ministre@msss.gouv.qc.ca>, Alexandre Thériault-Marois, Stikeman Elliott LLP <atheriaultmarois@stikeman.com>

July 12, 2013

Right Hon. Stephen Harper,
Prime Minister of Canada,
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

RE: Lac-Mégantic Tragedy, Who to Blame?

Dear Prime Minister Harper:

Although I may be naive, common sense would contend that a "1-person train crews" is NOT safer than a 2-person crew. The only justification for using "1-person train crews" is to enhance corporate profits. That is, the costs for a crew to run a train would be cut in half by using one-person crews instead of two-person crews. Otherwise, it would have been the responsibility of the brakeman to apply the 11 hand brakes and not the engineer. Additionally, as the engineer had to halt the train in order to get some sleep, he may have not been that alert when applying the hand breaks. Thus, the engineer is more likely to NOT apply all the brakes due to sleep deprivation.

If the runaway train had NOT stopped on a hill, then the brakes that were applied would have been sufficient to prevent the train from moving because the force of gravity would be nonexistent.

Also, with a three-person crew -- the train had a second engineer similar to a copilot on a plane, there would have been no need to stop the train in order for the engineer to get some sleep.

If all of the above were applied to all trains hauling explosive cargoes, then the 50 People of Lac-Mégantic would be still be alive today and the center of Lac-Mégantic would be intact. The primary responsibility of government is to ensure Public health and welfare. What happened in Lac-Mégantic dramatically demonstrates that the current policies of the Canadian government -- both at the national and the provincial levels of jurisdiction -- are aimed at increasing Corporate Profitability and NOT protecting Public health and welfare through the regulation of businesses for the common good. While deregulation does increase Corporate Profitability, public safety is put at risk. In putting risks to a vote, the electorate would undoubtedly favor risking profits over risking their own lives.

Sincerely,
Michael Milillo
Schwenksville, PA
USA

References:

"The blame game is in full swing in the Lac-Mégantic tragedy"SOPHIE COUSINEAU
The Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, Jul. 09 2013, 7:29 PM EDT
Last updated Tuesday, Jul. 09 2013, 10:46 PM EDT

< http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-o ... e13103257/ >

"But if MM&A [Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway] holds any blame, the Canadian government has been an accomplice to a certain extent. It is Transport Canada that gave special permission to MM&A so that the struggling railway company could use one-man crews and automated locomotive controls to cut its costs. Even given the little we know, it is hard to believe, as Mr. Burkhardt contends, that an extra set of eyes may not have possibly prevented this tragedy."

*

"Moving Lac-Mégantic tracks a possibility, Que. transport minister says"
1 week after disaster, vigils planned across Quebec

CBC News
Posted: Jul 12, 2013 3:56 AM ET
Last Updated: Jul 12, 2013 3:00 PM ET

< http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2 ... ation.html >

"Train operator says engineer to blame"

"The train was left unattended during the scheduled shift change that occurs at that location, and while it was sitting on the tracks, a passerby reportedly spotted a fire on the train and called the fire department. Burkhardt told the media that firefighters turned off the train's engine when they arrived and that it was likely the combination of that and the inadequate number of handbrakes that set the train rolling downhill."

*

"50 feared dead in Lac-Mégantic train derailment"
"Police meet with families, warn them to prepare for loss"

Montreal - CBC News
Posted: Jul 10, 2013 3:34 AM ET
Last Updated: Jul 10, 2013 11:19 PM ET

< http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/ ... ation.html >

QUOTE: "

"Transport Canada officials said on Tuesday that one-person train crews are not against regulations, as long as they meet certain safety standards.""

"Timeline of events"

"The train was parked by the engineer late Friday night, according to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada which is investigating the incident."

"The engineer then left the train and went to sleep at a nearby hotel."

"Burkhardt said the company had originally trusted their employee when he told them he had applied all 11 hand brakes. However, he said he now has his doubts about the engineer's story."

"'We think that he applied some handbrakes, the problem is that he didn’t apply enough of them,' he said."

"After the engineer finished his shift, he went to sleep at a nearby hotel. A short time later, a fire was reported on the train and another railway employee was brought in, according to the TSB. After firefighters and the rail worker had left the scene, the train started to roll downhill, derailed and several of its cars carrying crude oil exploded in the centre of Lac-Mégantic."

"1-person train crews safer, says railway head"

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