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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Jackson County approves $339 million budget ... Hunting trophies could get price tags ... Oregon races to finalize rules for marijuana, issue licenses ... Jackson County approves $339 million budget ... Hunting trophies could get price tags ... Oregon races to finalize rules for marijuana, issue licenses ... OUR VIEW Our View: Rail roulette in the Columbia Gorge Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 8, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Jun. 8, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News The first oil train accident in the Columbia Gorge was less disastrous than it might have been — no one was injured or killed — but an Oregon community was left without water or sewer service, and workers were still transferring oil from stranded rail cars into tanker trucks on Tuesday. The only certainty about the Friday derailment in Mosier that spilled 42,000 gallons of oil and sparked a fire that belched thick, black smoke is that it won't be the last. Even as emergency crews worked to douse the fire and clean up the spilled oil, tanker trains continued to roll down the Washington side of the gorge on tracks operated by the BNSF railroad. Union Pacific, which runs trains on the Oregon side, resumed regular freight runs at reduced speed past still-leaking tank cars, infuriating local residents who pointed out that sparks from those freight trains could pose the risk of more fire until the oil cleanup is finished. The oil, notoriously flammable Bakken crude from North Dakota oil sands, was bound for a refinery in Tacoma. Other oil brought down the Columbia winds up at a terminal in Clatskanie, where it is loaded on barges and shipped to refineries in northern Washington or California. The cars involved in Friday's derailment are a second-generation design still considered too vulnerable to rupturing in an accident. That car design is scheduled to be replaced with safer technology, but the transition could take years. Meanwhile, oil trains continue to roll down the scenic Columbia gorge, and south along the Cascades as well, through Klamath Falls on the way to California. Supporters of the blocked KXL pipeline argue it would have been a safer way to transport oil. They have a point, but there is no guarantee that finishing the pipeline would have eliminated or even reduced oil train transportation. Oregon political leaders and members of it congressional delegation have called for a moratorium on oil shipments through the gorge until the derailment is thoroughly investigated, and called on the federal Department of Transportation to explore alternative routes for oil trains. The transition to safer rail cars should be accelerated, and Oregon lawmakers should address the future of oil trains in the state in the next legislative session. But the bottom line is, as long as fossil fuels remain a primary energy source — which will likely be the case for many years to come — the risk of more such disasters will remain as well. The best we can hope for is to limit that risk as much as possible. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 8, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501