COMMISSION NEWS

ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION
1200 W. WASHINGTON STREET
PHOENIX, AZ 85007

TO: EDITORS, NEWS DIRECTORS

DATE: January 15, 1998

FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jennifer Jaress, (520) 628-6556


ACC INVESTIGATION SHOWS NO FEDERAL OR STATE TRACK SAFETY VIOLATIONS

Based on an investigation by the Railroad Safety Group of the Arizona Corporation Commission, there were no Federal or State track safety law violations in the recent derailment at Pima Mine Road near Sahuarita.

The Division's investigation showed that while moving cars within the train yard at ASARCO's Mission Mine, an ASARCO employee disabled the Union Pacific derailing switch. "This switch would have derailed the cars before they ran down the UP line," said Don Thompson, Supervisor of Railroad Safety.