To the editor:

With the news of now two separate Norfolk Southern trains derailing in the State of Ohio, it highlights the need for railroads to implement and adhere to stringent regulations as a safeguard to help avoid future accidents. Governors of Ohio and Pennsylvania say (correctly) that rules and regs come from the federal level. While that is true, when there is an accident, hazardous material response teams usually encompass first responders and small and mid-size communities try to respond quickly, but in the case of big spills and contamination of air, soil, and water often takes expertise that the average community doesn’t have.

In my opinion, Kansas communities need to press railroad executives for status reports of their train track which covers any particular area. Great Bend is served by the railroad. Fortunately no recent spills have occurred. Yet, about 20 years ago, I saw the remnants of a train derailment near Olmitz. Railcars had jumped the tracks and some were overturned, bent and twisted. It is also true that individual communities inquiries would be too numerous and overwhelm any railroad executive. However, individual citizens and chambers of commerce can ask the Governor of Kansas to form one single inquiry at periodic dates. To my way of thinking, it would be similar to inspection certificates we see on fire-extinguishers. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

James A. Marples,

Esbon