Allowable cargo

Tom Gunton, a professor in SFU’s School of Resource and Environmental Management, known for his view that oil spills are an inevitable part of oil pipelines, can comment on Quebec’s train derailment. Amidst the media reports of death and destruction, questions are flying about whether railway shipments of crude oil should be allowed to travel through populated areas like where a runaway oil tanker train derailed in Lac-Megantic. Gunton says, “A major issue is that the regulatory process for carrying oil on tankers is inadequate. It should be comparable to pipeline approvals where there is a full environmental impact assessment.”

Tom Gunton, 250.477.7601, tgunton@shaw.ca

Suits to follow?

SFU criminologist Neil Boyd says it's too early to know whether the derailment of a train in Quebec that has led to death and destruction will prompt criminal charges. However, Boyd adds: " I agree that various suits in negligence are a likely — almost inevitable — outcome."

Neil Boyd, 604.505.9803 (cell), 778.782.3324 (w), nboyd@sfu.ca