Dear Editor,

Now that all the leaves have fallen, you cannot help but notice all those black and white railroad tanker cars that line the railroad tracks, left abandoned since April (over nine months ago). These hundreds of tanker cars are stored on railroad tracks throughout Jim Thorpe all the way into Schuylkill County. Although we were told they are empty by the railroad owners, it brings up many questions that need answers.1. How long will these tanker cars be stored on railroad tracks?2. Why weren't they stored in some rail yard instead of "littering" the beautiful landscape in our counties?3. Who actually owns these tanker cars and where are they eventually going?4. "What if" they were actually filled with oil or some other toxic substance. Who would be responsible for any toxic spill or other emergency?5. Was a permit needed to store these tanker cars. If so, who approved it?6. Can the railroad owners simply leave their cars anywhere they want?7. Is it the railroad owners' responsibility to inform officials when they transport toxic substances through our county?8. Municipalities have strict ordinances for parking junk or abandoned vehicles - why no restrictions for the railroad?It is about time the Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad companies give us some answers. Also, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency needs to take a more proactive approach to these issues.Last year the U.S. Department of Transportation said it no longer considers information on crude oil as a security matter and is not required to share information with the public about hazardous materials according to federal law! I hope these questions will encourage our local officials to look into this matter and create better laws and regulations to protect our safety.Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion.Robert V. StraussNesquehoning