Subject: Toilets (3/20/1999)
Amtrak has found a number of private cars which have valves which can be remotely actuated to dump the contents of a holding tank along the right of way, instead of properly into a vacuum truck. An incident of a large dump of sewage on the Illinois Central was reported by Weisinger at the convention. Amtrak inspectors have been instructed to bad order all such cars. You must remove any such capability of en route dumping if you wish to run on Amtrak.
The Public Health Service Act was amended in 1986 so that it does not apply to waste disposal from railroad conveyances operated in intercity rail passenger service. Later, Amtrak was required to retrofit its cars by 1996. The ban on direct dumping by Amtrak was extended from 1996 to October 15, 2001. Amtrak has very few cars which still dump directly onto the right of way. I doubt that Amtrak will look with favor on any private cars that direct dump after that date, although the last two statute amendments do not apply to private cars, which remain exempt.
Paul L. DeVerter II
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