§7311. Investigation and reports of accidents
1.
Investigation.
The Commissioner of Transportation shall investigate all accidents resulting in loss of human life, or personal injury requiring 3 full days of hospitalization, occurring upon the premises of any railroad company or directly or indirectly arising from or connected with its maintenance or operation. Any accident so occurring and which results in property damage or personal injury that requires less than 3 full days of hospitalization also may be investigated if, in the judgment of the commissioner, the public interest requires it. The commissioner may hold hearings in connection with any investigation and shall reasonably notify the railroad company of the time and place of the hearing, and the railroad company may then be heard and the commissioner shall have the power to make such order or recommendation with respect thereto as deemed just and reasonable.
[PL 1989, c. 398, §9 (NEW).]
2.
Reports of accidents.
Every railroad company is required to file with the Commissioner of Transportation, under such rules as the commissioner may prescribe, reports of accidents so occurring, in the manner and form designated by the commissioner. In case of accidents resulting in loss of human life, such reports shall be made immediately by telephone or telegraph, followed by a detailed written report.
[PL 1989, c. 398, §9 (NEW).]
2-A.
State, county, municipal notice.
In the event of a main line train derailment involving hazardous materials, a railroad company shall make a 9-1-1 call, as defined in Title 25, section 2921, subsection 17, to alert first responders, including municipal and county fire chiefs in the jurisdiction, and provide timely notice to the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Emergency Management Agency. The Maine Emergency Management Agency may notify the Department of Transportation and the municipal and county fire chiefs located within the affected area of the accident.
[PL 2023, c. 618, §4 (NEW).]
2-B.
Public notice.
In the event of a main line train derailment involving hazardous materials, the Maine Emergency Management Agency shall, if requested by a municipal or county fire chief serving as incident commander, issue an alert through an emergency alert system or wireless emergency alert system for the area identified by the incident commander.
[PL 2023, c. 618, §5 (NEW).]
2-C.
Failure to issue notice.
If a railroad company fails to provide timely notice as required under subsection 2‑A, the Commissioner of Transportation may assess a fine up to $25,000 per failed notice per day in the event of a main line train derailment involving hazardous materials.
[PL 2023, c. 618, §6 (NEW).]
3.
Disposition of reports.
The orders and recommendations of the Department of Transportation, and accident reports and all other materials in the department's file pertaining to such railroad company accidents, shall be made available, upon request, to the railroad company, the injured person or their representatives.
[PL 1989, c. 398, §9 (NEW).]
4.
Reports inadmissible as evidence.
The orders and recommendations of the Department of Transportation, accident reports and any other material in the department's file pertaining to such accidents obtained or prepared pursuant to an investigation under this section shall not be admitted as evidence in any suit or action for damages growing out of any matter mentioned in any such investigation.
[PL 1989, c. 398, §9 (NEW).]
5.
Routine inspections.
Upon request of the Commissioner of Transportation, a railroad company shall submit reports of inspections conducted pursuant to federal agency requirements under 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Subtitle B, Chapter II by a railroad company of trains, rails, rail safety equipment and rail corridors. Records under this subsection are not public records pursuant to Title 1, section 402, subsection 3, paragraph U.
[PL 2023, c. 618, §7 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1989, c. 398, §9 (NEW). PL 2023, c. 618, §§4-7 (AMD).