Spokane voters reject measure to fine oil, coal trains

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) – Voters in Spokane have rejected a proposal to fine some coal and oil trains traveling through the city’s downtown core.
 
Proposition 2 was failing with only 41 percent of votes cast in favor of the measure, which was criticized as illegal.
 
Voters were asked to approve $261 fines for the owners of each rail car containing an uncovered coal shipment or oil that hadn’t been treated to reduce vapor pressure and flashpoint.
 
The Spokesman-Review says Union Pacific and BNSF fought the proposal, arguing they didn’t have the ability under federal law to decide which commodities they would transport.
 
A coalition of local businesses and prominent politicians joined the fight against the proposition.
 
The Spokane Firefighters Union and a group called Safer Spokane supported the measure.
 
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Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com