Casey wants panel to boost disaster response to derailments

Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey is urging the passage of federal legislation that would create a task force to address the increasing number in Pennsylvania of derailments of trains carrying crude oil.

The Response Act would create a Federal Emergency Management Agency National Advisory Council subcommittee that would help first responders deal with derailments. Data from Casey’s office shows what it called a dramatic increase in crude-oil rail car derailments since 2008. There have been several in…