COVER STORY

As with other hazmat incidents, all of this is done in coordination with other agencies, including Department of Ecology officials onsite and Spokane Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Response team.

While accidents happen and are often spectacular in nature, hauling hazardous materials via rail does provide better conditions for public safety — and more goods are being required to be shipped via this method.

Using projections from the Federal Highway Administration (FRA), the Association of American Railroads reported in July 2019 that total freight shipments via rail would rise 35% by 2040 — up to 24.1 billion tons from 17.8 billion tons in 2017. According to a May 2021 Industrial Safety & Hygiene News story, much of this is attributed to “historically high levels” of oil and natural gas produced in the U.S. now required to be transported by rail.

The increase means there are approximately over 3.1 billion tons of hazardous materials — including chlorine, anhydrous ammonia and other chemicals — hauled each year via rail. Even with the increase, rail accidents have steadily declined.

According to the FRAs’ 2018 railsafety data, overall rates of all categories of rail accidents have fallen 26% since 2009, and over 48% for hazardous materials from 2008 – 2018, resulting in over 99.9% of hazmat shipments safely reaching their destination in 2018. Much of this comes from federal rail requirements for tech-enabled inspections, specialized equipment, upgrades to rolling stock such as tank cars, government oversight and operational modifications to jointly identify the safest and most secure rail routes for shipments — all requiring billions of dollars in upgrades.

“Burlington Northern Santa Fe has made a significant investment in infrastructure, technology deployment, rigorous employee and first responder training, improved operating practices and community safety initiatives,” BNSF Railway General Director Public Affairs Lena Kent said in an email.

Union Pacific officials also described similar measures undertaken for safety.

“Union Pacific has a 24-hour, 365-days-year emergency critical center and a robust emergency management plan in place that is activated in the event of an emergency, See HAZARDS, Page 13

Alex Wooley and “high achiever” became synonymous at University High School. The recently graduated senior maintained a 4.0 grade point average and was part of National Honor Society. She was president of the U-Hi chapter of Health Occupations Students of America, qualifying for state three times and international competition once. Wooley participated in the Junior Health Scholar program, volunteering over 200 hours at Valley Hospital. She was recently named Spokane Scholar runnerup in Social Studies. Wooley was a threeyear letter winner in tennis, qualified for state last year and was named to the All Greater Spokane League second team. She has played the piano for 10 years. Wooley earned her two-year Capstone diploma which included a report on the effects of teaching sleep education to high school students. She will attend Brigham Young University-Provo and pursue a career in nursing.

Hockey may not make the list as a Greater Spokane League sport, but that hasn’t stopped Simon Wherity from being clutch in the net. The recently graduated University High School senior is the starting goaltender for the North Idaho Knights 18U team that won 19 out of 32 games this season. He was a threetime selection for the Pacific Northwest Amateur Hockey Association’s annual select camp for goaltenders. Wherity began playing hockey 10 years ago and has also played wing and defense. Prior to the Knights, he competed for the Spokane Junior Chiefs. “I like the fact that I can be separate but still working with the team,” Wherity says of his goaltending post. At U-Hi, he was part of the Viable Vison Art Club and graduated with a 3.03 grade point average. Wherity also enjoys skiing, skateboarding and mountain biking.

In 2002, Jayne Singleton left her job in public relations to become the keeper of Spokane Valley history. She had been tasked by the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce to create an historical retrospective of the chamber’s 80th anniversary. “I found it difficult to find anything,” Singleton recalls. “That’s when I started thinking the Valley needed a museum.” Singleton’s campaign paid off in 2004 when the city of Spokane Valley donated Opportunity Town Hall, built in 1912, as the site of the Spokane Valley Heritage Museum. Singleton has served as the museum’s executive director since its inception. The site has welcomed thousands of visitors and hosted a variety of exhibits including traveling displays provided by the Smithsonian Institution. “History can be a great teacher if we save it, preserve it, make it accessible and teach it,” Singleton said.