Jad Mouwad reports in The New York Times that while Canada has been quick to respond with preventative measures after a giant oil train explosion last year, the United States has been slow to reform, even with several recent minor accidents in the Hudson Valley. On February 25, an Ulster County accident involved empty rail cars that had recently off-loaded crude oil and occurred after the conductor missed a red signal and reversed the train through a switch. In Albany County Feb. 28, a derailment at the Selkirk Rail Yards involved thirteen train cars fully-loaded with crude oil. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on March 4 urged federal officials to strengthen rail safety standards. On April 24 federal regulators in the United States said that they would push forward new oil tank standards next week. The proposed rules would include “options for enhancing tank car standards,” said Kevin Thompson, a spokesman. Read the full story in The New York Times.