Raymond V Kasey

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

BIOGRAPHICAL QUALIFICATIONS I am an expert in railroad safety and particularly in the hazardous materials (hazmat or HM) discipline of regulations contained in 49 CFR Parts 100-199 and also qualified to enforce Parts 200-299. I have worked in the industry for 57 years. My career began as a locomotive fireman and engineer on the Erie Lackawanna Railroad on September 6, 1967. I was subsequently promoted to Trainmaster-Road Foreman of Engines on the Consolidated Rail Corporation (aka, Conrail) in 1977. In 1983 was hired by the U.S. Department of Transportation / Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) as a Hazardous Materials (HM) Inspector. In 1991 I was again promoted as a HM Specialist to the FRA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. where I remained until my retirement at the conclusion of my government career in 2010. Since that time I have worked doing various consulting duties for railroads, railroad repair companies, other consulting companies, the government, and as an expert witness for civil litigation. As a HM Specialist I was the designated government liaison with the Association of American Railroads/Bureau of Explosives (AAR/BOE) Steering Committee (Committee) which met three times a year and addressed all and various topics associated with the transportation of hazardous materials by rail. One of their topics discussed, developed, and written during my ten year tenure on the Committee was the AAR/BOE Hazardous Materials Instructions by Rail. Each of the seven class one railroads adopted it and modified it to meet their particular operating requirements. Union Activities During my time on the Erie Lackawanna Railroad I was Vice President of United Transportation Union, Local 800. Duties included defending other employees during company trial-investigations of alleged violations of the operating rules resulting in accidents, injuries, derailments, etc. While a HQ Specialist for FRA I was elected President of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2814. Federal Railroad Administration As a HM inspector for the FRA I was responsible for regulatory compliance inspections of various railroads, shippers, consignees for the proper transportation, loading, and unloading of cars containing hazardous materials. I have inspected literally hundreds of facilities and inspected thousands of railroad tank cars. I have inspected numerous manufacturers of HM packagings and inspected tank car repair and testing facilities. I have conducted numerous grade crossing collision investigations, conducted many train accident investigations, and employee injury investigations which resulted in determining probable cause and subsequent recommendations. I have written hundreds of violations of the regulations resulting in civil penalties without a single rejection of the violation by the FRA Office of Chief Counsel [for being wrong or un-enforceable] or loss in claims collection conferences [similar to an Administrative Law Judge “court”]. Provided expert opinion to the Office of Chief Counsel during the claims collection conferences as well as other assistance in legal matters which they required. After leaving the civil service I have consulted with railroads, chemical industries, governments, other consultants, and attorneys. One such inspection was the examination hazmat tank cars from the train involved in the Lac-Megantic, Quebec, Canada, train wreck as a sub-contractor. I have been an expert witness in several civil cases and had been deposed for numerous accident investigation cases. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2011 to present: Consulting services provided to: Perkins Coie Attorneys (Seattle office) STARS Consulting Maine Pointe Company Federal Railroad Administration (after retirement) Kansas City Southern Railway BNSF Railway Yeager, Jungbauer & Barczak Attorneys AMC television series “Breaking Bad” Utah Railway (Genesee & Wyoming, Inc.)(haz mat assessment) U.S. Environmental Servic