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Casey seeks more rail inspectors

U.S. Sen. Robert Casey (D., Pa.) on Thursday asked the Obama administration to hire more railroad bridge inspectors because of growing concerns about the transport of crude oil by freight trains.

U.S. Sen. Robert Casey (D., Pa.) on Thursday asked the Obama administration to hire more railroad bridge inspectors because of growing concerns about the transport of crude oil by freight trains.

Railroad companies are responsible for inspecting and maintaining their bridges, with oversight by the Federal Railroad Administration and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The FRA has one bridge inspector for Pennsylvania's 919 rail bridges, including 261 in the five-county Philadelphia region.

In a letter to the FRA's acting administrator, Sarah Feinberg, Casey said he would help get additional funding for inspectors "to make sure these bridges are safe for railroad employees, passengers and surrounding communities."

An FRA spokesman said the agency is examining how to do more monitoring within its current budget. "With more resources from Congress, FRA could have a more robust program," the spokesman said.

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