If you've been wondering what kinds of plans are in place for dealing with potential train derailments across the Inland Northwest, you might want to tune in to Tuesday night's Spokane Valley City Council meeting.

Spokane Valley Fire officials will be updating city leaders on exiting rail restrictions and what multi-community preparations already have been made for dealing with rail disasters. The issue is getting more attention these days because of plans to ship millions of gallons of Bakken crude oil to ports and refineries on the West Coast, which would increase the number of mile-long trains rolling through the Inland Northwest daily.

Federal regulators are contemplating new safeguards on oil trains following a string of fiery accidents in other states in the past year. Also, new reports indicate Bakken crude is more flammable than other oil.

The City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday. You can either head to Spokane Valley City Hall, 11707 E. Sprague Ave., to watch in person or steer your favorite web browser to www.spokanevalley.org/content/124/938/329/2138.aspx and watch the presentation live on SCTV.

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