North Idaho Authorities Want Rail Road Catastrophe Group

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — Northern Idaho officials concerned about the increasing number of oil trains passing through the region are seeking a grant to create a regional response plan should a railroad catastrophe occur.

The Bonner County Daily Bee reports that the plan would include Boundary, Bonner and Kootenai counties. Bonner County Emergency Management Director Bob Howard says the plan is prompted by a rise in oil trains from the Bakken fields of North Dakota heading west. The Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security administers the grant program.