Questions oil train story's facts

The front-page story with bold large headlines, telephoto images of “tankers,” full and empty; graphic fireball and dark clouds of smoke. Wow. What a message. I suppose the primary one the authors were seeking was the subliminal message that results from such images and verbiage.

It certainly was not from the veracity of ambiguous phrases, innuendos and unsubstantiated quotes (or were they misquotes?).

Let’s take a look at some of the most glaring statements that were presented to your readership.

Oil trains run through downtown Whitefish. Have the tracks been moved? What business or governmental structure is along or adjacent to the mainline BNSF Railway tracks?

Bakken crude is closer to gasoline than to diesel. That was a quote from one of our fire chiefs.

However, there was a glaring absence of factual data to support that whopper. Using ASTM standards for testing flash points of petroleum products, using either the open cup method or closed cup method would show that No. 2 grade of diesel, which is the most common in this area, is between 120-130 degrees F. Gasoline is in the range of minus 45 degrees F.

Bakken crude has a very wide range of flash points, being from 125 to 160 degrees F, depending on the type and source of crude and the testing method used. Unless a person is aware of the specifications shown on the MSDS publication for a particular product, which all fire departments use when dealing with hazardous materials, descriptions of flammable or combustible materials can be very complex.

Another local fire chief is quoted as stating, “This stuff is more dangerous than typical oil.” The flammability is different. Pray tell, what is typical oil, and what is its flash point? Automotive motor oil is in the 425 degree F range. We must wonder if he is talking about a “contained hydrocarbon” or an “exposed hydrocarbon,” because there is a grave difference. Contained hydrocarbons require a very precise minimal air/fuel mixture before they become combustible, such as contained inside a tank car or pipeline, or a storage tank.

I want to make it clear that I admire and support those individuals who care for our public safety day in and day out. I do not want to see them used as “pawns”.

I could only wonder as to the underlying reason for this type of a journalistic endeavor until I realized how much this story could enhance the “obstructionist movement” that has gripped our country in the ever-increasing effort to restrict development of our natural resources, prevent new construction of supply line infrastructure, and continue the dependence of our society on governmental control of our sources of energy.

John Donoghue is a resident of Kalispell.