Now there's a name that has not been in the news in awhile.
Welcome back, Curt Weldon.
Weldon, who spent 20 years representing the 7th District in Congress before being defeated by Democrat Joe Sestak, was back in town Wednesday for something close to his heart.
Weldon started as a fire chief in Marcus Hook. He's always kept an eye out for first responders.
Some things don't change.
Weldon appeared at a hearing in Eddystone to testify about the proposal to use trains to deliver crude oil to a site in the borough, where it will be loaded onto tankers and delivered to refineries up and down the waterfront.
As usual, Weldon was blunt in his assessment.
He said an accident here in Delaware County is almost assured. He knows of what he speaks. He was mayor of Marcus Hook during the 1975 Corinthos disaster when two ships collided in the river, touching off a massive explosion and fireball. That disaster claimed 29 lives. The fire burned on the river for three days.
Weldon, who these days serves as CEO of Jenkins Hill International, urged state officials to make sure detailed emergency response plans are in place before giving the green light to the rail crude oil deliveries.
"Make no mistake," Weldon warned, "an incident involving rail transport of il will occur in the commonwealth and lives, including first-responder lives, and property will be put at risk. These incidents have occurred in the past and they will occur in the future."
It's a classic case of a boon for jobs and the economy, weighed against the possible risks.
Weldon make it clear what side he's on, and wants to be sure the proper oversight and regulations are in place before those rail cars start rolling into Delco.
Keep an eye on this one. It involves what likely will be one of the biggest economic stories in the county - and the risks that go along with it.
Comments