FAS

Rail Transportation of Crude Oil, and More from CRS

02.10.14 | 1 min read | Text by Steven Aftergood

A recent boom in U.S. production of crude oil is generating some stress on the transportation infrastructure, according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service.

“The rapid expansion of North American oil production has led to significant challenges in transporting crudes efficiently and safely to domestic markets—principally refineries—using the nation’s legacy pipeline infrastructure,” the CRS report said.

“While oil by rail has demonstrated benefits with respect to the efficient movement of oil from producing regions to market hubs, it has also raised significant concerns about transportation safety and potential impacts to the environment.”

See U.S. Rail Transportation of Crude Oil: Background and Issues for Congress, February 6, 2014.

Other CRS publications that have been withheld by Congress from online public distribution include the following.

The Specialty Metal Clause: Oversight Issues and Options for Congress, February 6, 2014

Federal Reserve: Unconventional Monetary Policy Options, February 6, 2014

publications
See all publications
Government Capacity
Report
Research Agenda: Estimating the U.S. Government’s Return-on-Investment on Scientific Research & Development

The United States federal government invests nearly $150 billion annually in research and development. However, the supporting evidence generates wildly different estimates depending on the methods and available data. 

06.26.26 | 5 min read
read more
Government Capacity
Report
What We Recommend for Building Better Digital Service Teams, Initiatives, and Results

The digital government field has an opportunity to build a more responsive and resilient government by pushing into new frontiers, with new tools, approaches, and even organizations that don’t exist yet. This is the time for radical experimentation, delivery, and exploration.

06.25.26 | 23 min read
read more
Clean Energy
Blog
Fixing a Broken Market: A Plan for Cheaper Freight, Cleaner Air, and American Truck Leadership

Americans are paying too much for almost everything, because the United States has long treated its trucking industry as an artifact to be preserved rather than as an opportunity for innovation.

06.16.26 | 9 min read
read more
Emerging Technology
Report
SOURCE CODE: A Policy Agenda for Fostering Trust and Fairness in AI

These ideas aim to advance the detailed policy solutions needed to foster public trust and implement fairness in the adoption of AI across diverse domains, from healthcare and government benefits to rural access, education, and worker protections.

06.11.26 | 17 min read
read more