Under Pressure Act

119th Congress Introduced by Chris Deluzio and 2 co-sponsors

The act requires FRA to deliver an 18-month congressional report detailing PRD failures in derailments, including causes, events, compatibility, survivability, and NTSB recommendat

Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Under Pressure Act (H.R. 7011) – Summary

Purpose

To require the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator to submit a Congressional report examining the rate and causes of rail tank car pressure relief device (PRD) failures in derailment scenarios, and to include actionable recommendations and status updates on related NTSB recommendations.

Key Provisions

Mandatory Report to Congress (Section 2(a))

Due date: Not later than 18 months after enactment.
content must include:
The rate and causes of PRD failures during derailments.
Details for each derailment event, including:
- Number of tank cars involved.
- Whether a fire occurred.
- If a fire occurred: temperature and duration.
- Time to PRD failure and the circumstances surrounding the failure.
- For each PRD that failed:
- Compatibility assessment with the involved tank car commodity.
- Assessment of survivability and thermal protection in high-heat conditions for the PRD.
- Identification of device orientation (whether PRD is above/below vapor line or in the liquid space).
Recommendations to prevent PRD failures.
Status of any NTSB recommendations related to rail tank cars, including recommendations issued from enactment date of the Act through the date the FRA initiates the report, that have not received an acceptable response from the respondent.

Consultation Requirements (Section 2(b))

The FRA must consult with:
Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Rail employers.
Organizations representing rail employees.
Rail tank car builders, shippers, and owners.

Substantive Focus and Data sought

Quantitative and qualitative data on PRD performance during derailments.

Contextual information on fire involvement, heat exposure, and timing of device failures.

Technical assessments of PRD compatibility with different tank car commodities.

Evaluation of PRD survivability and thermal protection under high-heat conditions.

Clarification of PRD orientation relative to vapor/liquid spaces, affecting performance.

Evidence-based recommendations aimed at reducing PRD failures.

Tracking of NTSB recommendations and whether responses have been provided.

Who Is Affected

Federal agencies: FRA and PHMSA (in inter-agency collaboration).

Industry stakeholders: rail carriers/employers, rail labor organizations, rail tank car manufacturers, shippers, and tank car owners.

Implication for safety practices and potential design considerations of PRDs and tank cars based on findings and recommended actions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Enactment triggers the 18-month reporting deadline for the FRA to submit the specified report to Congress.

The bill requires ongoing consultation with key stakeholders during the report development.

The report includes a retroactive element to assess status of NTSB recommendations issued since the date of enactment up to the report initiation.

Observations

The bill does not itself mandate new safety standards or rulemaking; instead, it seeks a comprehensive, data-driven congressional report that could inform future policy or regulatory actions.

Emphasizes transparency about PRD performance, failure causes, and alignment with industry practices and prior regulatory recommendations.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise one-page briefing or a comparison with current FRA/NTSB guidance related to rail tank car pressure relief devices.