Franken wants oil safety study

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Al Franken wants a study about the safety of carrying western North Dakota crude oil through Minnesota.
The Minnesota Democrat pressed the Federal Railroad Administration to make the oil less volatile before it is shipped. He also called to route railroad tracks around communities, improve the rails and to give communities funds to respond to oil-related accidents.
“I have heard strong concerns from many constituents about the safety of Bakken crude oil being shipped through Minnesota as the trains carrying this crude oil have shown a propensity to explode in the case of a derailment,” Franken wrote in a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration Monday.