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Toxic Trains in the Hot Zone
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Welcome to the Toxic Trains website. Please bear with us as we upload our new site over the next few days.
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"Creating safe and
livable communities through informed citizen's."
Hot Zone News Archives 2005
Woman dead after Arkansas train derailment
Meanwhile, hundreds of others have been allowed back
in their homes after a train derailment that released toxic chemicals into
the air. Authorities said a tanker car loaded with flammable gas derailed
and exploded before dawn Saturday.
Danger may be riding the rails Editorial
Cleanup
following train derailment expected to last a couple of days
Texarkana - An investigation into the cause of Saturday's train
derailment and collision in Texarkana, Arkansas is underway.
Explosion in
Arkansas Prompts Evacuation Hundreds of homes were evacuated Saturday after a liquid propane gas tank was hit by a Union Pacific train car, exploding in a ball of fire and leaving a plume of smoke over the south end of the city, a police spokesman said. Officers went door to door and urged thousands of people to move to the north side of town while firefighters put out the blaze. The air quality was of most concern because a train car carrying vinyl acetate caught fire, police spokesman Chris Rankin said. Rankin said fumes from the chemical are "most definitely poisonous." October 15th, 2005, ABC News
Emergency
workers share lessons from Graniteville disaster NORFOLK,
Va. -- Plumes of thick smoke billowed out of a mangled heap of twisted
black metal. A white car lay crushed under a fallen tree. Railroad cars
were tossed on top of one another like a child’s train set cast aside. myself. I’ve got to get out of here.” Another man yells on the
phone, “It’s chlorine. It’s chlorine. We can’t get out.”
One Minot
derailment lawsuit settled FARGO, N.D. -- Lawyers for hundreds of
people seeking damages in a deadly 2002 train derailment and chemical
spill west of Minot are touting the first settlement in the case. Ten of the cars that derailed were empty, including the car that landed in the river. That car contained a residue of ignet, a powdery substance O'Connell likened to aluminum. Department of Environmental Conservation officials said there was no risk of contamination from the car that landed in the river. Other cars contained loads of the nontoxic powder, wood pulp and soy bean oil, officials said. The derailment was the first in recent memory in Amsterdam. The accident is dwarfed by a derailment that occurred in Fonda in December 1995, when 51 cars were knocked off the rails. One of those had been carrying sodium hydroxide that spilled into nearby farmland and forced the evacuation of homes. October 13th, 2005, Times Union
Two trains go off tracks There were two train derailments in
the B.C. Interior on Tuesday morning – in the span of about an hour.
Teamsters
report on rail safety seeks more training, curbs on remote control
According
to IBT's survey, 87 percent of respondents said there was no certified
engineer available to assist or relieve other engineers in case of
emergency or hijacking.
Critics of
planned port rail yard raise smog concerns Although still in the
early planning stages, a sprawling rail facility that would straddle
Wilmington and Long Beach has many Harbor Area residents concerned that
the complex will add to local air pollution problems.
Opinion:
Managing risk
Government regulators must also be aggressive in
making sure the laws governing the transport and storage of such chemicals
are followed. The railcar containing styrene apparently began leaking
because somebody lost track of the car, which was sitting on a railroad
siding, and a chemical that is added periodically to stabilize the
flammable styrene had expired. The incident could have been much
worse - the car was in danger of exploding but was cooled down by fire
hoses before it could get to that point.
Minot
derailment lawsuits hitting the courts, three years later
BISMARCK, N.D. -- Nearly four years after his
life was changed forever, Tom Lundeen's focus is shifting from constant
worries about his family's health to a Minneapolis courtroom where he
hopes for some sign of resolution. 'Where's styrene?' call in vain Terminal says it tried to inform railroad The intended recipient of a rail car filled with styrene that overheated and caused an
evacuation of Cincinnati's East End in August said it twice notified the railroad shipping the hazardous material that the car was overdue - but got no response. Officials at Queen City Terminals noticed the rail car was missing in January after checking a bill sent by manufacturer Westlake Chemical Corp. (describing the contents of the rail car) with an inventory of the cars they had received, said spokesman Rick Rainey. The car sat, abandoned, on a siding near Lunken Airport for five months before it erupted, spewing a plume of fumes and raising the possibility of an explosion. October 6th, 2005 Cincinnati Enquirer
Proposed Rail Yard Angers Residents of Nearby Long Beach Community
Long Beach residents are protesting
plans by the Port of Los Angeles to build a 153-acre rail yard just upwind
of a working-class neighborhood with five public schools, a day-care
center and a homeless veterans' center. Styrene leak prompts advisory The railcar chemical leak that caused the evacuation of more than 800 residents in Cincinnati's East End prompted a safety advisory from the Federal Railroad Administration Wednesday to railroads and others that deal with hazardous materials. "FRA's investigation into the styrene incident in Cincinnati is not yet complete, but the fact that a car of time-sensitive material, carrying an inhibitor, was apparently allowed to languish on the same railroad for seven months is not acceptable," Daniel Smith, the agency's associate administrator for safety, said in the advisory. The advisory recommends railroads, shippers and receivers of time-sensitive materials follow new industry standards that went into effect Sept. 1, just days after the styrene leak began in Linwood near Lunken Airport, threatening to cause a large explosion. October 6th, 2005 Cincinnati Post
St. Bernard plant called worst-case accident site Residents of Cincinnati's East End and nearby neighborhoods were evacuated because of a lone railroad tank car leaking styrene vapors in August, but other chemical risks, potentially even more dangerous, are parked at dozens of businesses and rail sidings across the region. More than 60 companies in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky use one or more hazardous chemicals in large-enough amounts that they're required to file risk-management plans with the federal government, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The St. Bernard plant is one of about 110 facilities in the United States that, in the event of a worst-case accident, could pose a danger to more than a million people in surrounding areas, according to EPA data. October 6th, 2005 Cincinnati Post Textile lawsuit blames damage on Norfolk Avondale claims railroad's actions harmed business AIKEN - Avondale Mills Inc. is suing Norfolk Southern Corp. and three fired employees for damages caused by the January train crash and chlorine spill, according to a copy of the lawsuit obtained Wednesday. The suit states that the train company and its workers were negligent and have "caused Avondale's textile business catastrophic damage." Textile production has yet to return to full capacity at Avondale, and the company announced Tuesday that it is laying off about 350 people. October 6th, 2005 Augusta Chronicle Graniteville Train Crash Report coming AIKEN - A federal investigation of the Graniteville train disaster is almost complete, and final results might be published before year's end, according to a lead investigator. National Transportation Safety Board officials have traveled to the small mill town many times since the Jan. 6 train collision and chlorine spill that killed nine people and injured hundreds more. October 6th, 2005 Augusta Chronicle Toxic Gumbo Oil is not the only toxin that saturates Louisiana and threatens the health of residents returning to New Orleans and adjacent parishes. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality reports that muck covering the area is contaminated with human waste and bacteria, including E.coli, a fecal bacterium. It estimates that between 1,000 and 5,000 railroad cars have been damaged by Katrina, including some carrying chlorine or sulfuric acid. The EPA says water may be polluted by arsenic and lead from paint and the batteries of 350,000 submerged cars. Shattered homes and businesses are contaminated with asbestos and mold. October 6th, 2005, Salon EPA probing railway waste dumps NORTH BERGEN - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, at the urging of two congressmen, is investigating the dumping of tons of construction and demolition waste at open-air waste transfer stations in the township. October 5th, 2005 North Jersey.com
Graniteville is free from spill contaminants - Graniteville
residents can breath easy, say officials of the South Carolina Department of
Health and Environmental Control. Graniteville mills begin 350 layoffs GRANITEVILLE - Avondale Mills Inc. officials announced Tuesday that 350 employees will be laid off, a move that comes after months of coping with the aftermath of a January chlorine spill that corroded some of its key textile plants. "It's a direct result of the difficulties we've experienced because of the January derailment," said Stephen Felker Jr., a company spokesman. October 5th, 2005, Augusta Chronicle CN says safety record improved this year Despite another derailment on the weekend, CN claims its safety record is actually better this year than last year. CN spokesman Jim Feeny said yesterday that there have been 1.4 accidents per million train miles so far, compared with 1.7 during the same period last year. "CN's accident ratio is substantially lower than the Canadian industry average," he said. In the latest incident, two tanker cars loaded with propane and four empty cars went off the tracks at the Walker Yard at 97 Street and 127 Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The cars remained upright and no propane leaked, Feeny said. October 3rd, 2005 Edmonton Sun Emissions from trains are a major health concern for people living near rail operations By the year 2020, freight trains up to 1 1/2 miles long will roll through the area every nine minutes --twice as often as they do now. October 3rd, 2005 SVGTribune.com
Clerical error 'misplaced' rail car:
Wrong input showed tanker of styrene was headed for
Mich.
The revelation came during an informal hearing in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Thursday morning among 19 lawyers and Judge Melba Marsh, who has been assigned the case. September 30th, 2005 Cincinnati Enquirer Safety, Security, Earn Failing Grade in Worker Survey of Nation's Rails Teamsters Rail Conference and Members of Congress Respond to Disturbing Findings September 27th, 2005 Teamsters CN tracking latest derailment Another CN train has gone off the rails, this one southeast of Edmonton. Yesterday's accident was the sixth derailment for the corporation in the past two months. A locomotive, which leaked about 30 litres of diesel fuel, and 10 empty freight cars went off the rails near New Sarepta, 48 km southeast of Edmonton. A preliminary investigation by the Transportation Safety Board indicates a broken rail may have caused the derailment. September 27, 2005 Edmonton Sun Derailment heaves potash onto banks of Moyie River CP Rail, Environment Ministry at odds over how much fertilizer was spilled. VANCOUVER -- CP Rail and provincial environmental officials are cleaning up after a derailment Sunday in southeastern B.C. spilled an unidentified amount of potash at the Moyie River. Exactly how much potash spilled out of the two cars that turned upside down is in dispute between CP Rail and the Environment Ministry. The ministry says 100 tonnes of the reddish powdered fertilizer leaked, but the rail company says the spill was smaller. "We don't have a confirmed amount," said CP Rail spokesman Ed Greenburg. "It's a minimal amount that made it to the river's edge." September 27th, 2005, Globe and Mail Cities pitch rail hazmat bans JACKSONVILLE -- Four major cities have pending legislation to ban certain hazardous materials from being carried by rail through at least part of their jurisdictions, even though CSX Transportation Inc. is challenging the only such locally enacted law in federal court. CSXT attorneys were in court Sept. 21 for a procedural hearing in the company's lawsuit to void Washington, D.C.'s law banning hazardous shipments within 2.2 miles of the U.S. Capitol. CSXT has already won a ruling from an appeals court enjoining the city from enforcing its law. September 25th, 2005, MSNBC
Empty nuclear
waste container tips over BUFFALO, N.Y. -- An empty container
used to store spent nuclear fuel tipped over Thursday while being hauled by
train to a shipyard. The container was not damaged and there was no release
of radiation, the Department of Energy said. CN toxic spill on Cheakamus River; need to commit resources to upgrade Railway Act Squamish Canada - (letter to the editor) As you probably know, there was a toxic spill [caustic soda/Sodium Hydroxide-a highly corrosive liquid used in the pulp and paper industry] due to a derailed CN railcar in the Cheakamus River canyon just north of Squamish, BC, Aug. 6, 2005. As a resident of Paradise Valley immediately downriver from the spill location, and a business leader in my community, I am compelled to do whatever I can to ensure such a disaster does not happen again. September 23, 2005 Whistler Question SLRD voices CN concerns Length of trains presents safety, environmental issues, say directors In response to the CN train derailment in the Cheakamus Canyon on Aug. 5, Lillooet Mayor Greg Kamenka is calling for change. After talking to a number of CN employees, Kamenka said long trains and the sharp curves of the Sea to Sky corridor do not mix. He said anything beyond 60 to 70 cars is risking derailment. In August, part of a 144-car train plunged into the Cheakamus River en-route to Prince George. One tanker spilled 41,000 litres of caustic soda into the river, causing widespread ecological damage. Although a Ministry of Transportation investigation is ongoing, the SLRD board of directors is asking for more action. Squamish Director Raj Kahlon witnessed the damage firsthand and insists CN needs immediate change. He contends that CN trains are too long to travel safely through the Cheakamus Canyon and more trips need to be taken. He was adamant that 10 more derailments must not happen. “This is a unique stretch of railway and the time has come for action,” Kahlon said at Monday’s regular board meeting. “I want strong words and I don’t want to back down.” September 23, 2005 Whistler Question
Judge Demands To View Rail Plan
D.C. Hazmat Cargo Ban At Issue in CSX Lawsuit Washington D.C.
- A federal judge yesterday demanded to see a highly secret plan for
protecting the Washington area's rails from a chemical attack and erupted
after a Justice Department attorney said he doubted the government would
comply.
Train Derailment
Forces Residents to Evacuate Toledo, OH
-A train derailment in South Toledo has forced dozens of residents out of
their homes. Deputy commander has 'long term' issues with ethanol facility Chambersburg, PA - The highest ranking civilian at Letterkenny Army Depot raised serious concerns Monday about an ethanol plant that could be built next door to the installation north of Chambersburg. Rail tankers would transport the ethanol. The tracks in the business park have had four derailments since 1999. Trains hauling ethanol derailed in California, Indiana and Kansas in the first week of September. September 20, 2005 Public Opinion Repairing rails in the Gulf Coast Last week, the company sent a 3-mile convoy of vehicles and more than 100 workers into the Gentilly Yards at New Orleans, which were flooded in the wake of Katrina. Most of the water is gone, but it left behind tangles of overturned rail cars and shipping containers, plus whole sections of undermined track. Corman officials said crews will live on site in trailers and motor homes for up to three weeks while they complete repairs. Hundreds of rail cars that were flooded will have to be inspected. If the cars' wheel hubs were underwater, federal regulations require that wheel bearings and other parts be replaced before the cars can go back into operation, said Noel Rush, president of R.J. Corman Derailment Services, a part of the Corman Group.September18th, 2005 Lexington Herarld-Leader Train collision kills worker, forcing evacuation SHEPHERD -- Two Union Pacific trains collided and derailed north of Houston in downtown Shepherd, killing one employee, forcing an overnight evacuation of hundreds of residents and canceling school today.San Jacinto Constable Jerry Everitt said that by daybreak, the diesel fuel spill that sent residents fleeing to Shepherd High School and Shepherd Primary School had been cleaned up and residents were allowed to go back home shortly after 6 a.m. San Jacinto County spokeswoman Judy Eaton said firefighters went door to door early today to evacuate between 500 and 600 residents within a half-mile radius of the track. September 15, 2005 Houston Chronicle DEQ: Rail cars pose hazards No leaks so far, but data still sketchy Hundreds and possibly thousands of railcars in the area hit by Hurricane Katrina could be an environmental hazard. The problem for state Department of Environmental Quality staff is in not knowing what or where that hazard might be. Assistant DEQ secretary Wilbert Jordan said that conservatively there may 1,000 railroad cars in the impacted area, but that number could be as high as 5,000. The largest number of these railroad cars are likely in the New Orleans area but some are in other affected areas as well, he said. In this heavily industrial part of the state, chemicals such as chlorine, sulfuric acid and others that pose hazards to human health are routinely transported by rail. September 15, 2005 Baton Rouge Advocate No chemical leaks seen from New Orleans trains There is no evidence of dangerous chemical leaks from overturned rail cars in New Orleans but teams are still testing them for hazardous materials, Louisiana's top environmental official said on Wednesday. Until now the environmental focus in the hurricane-hit region has been on spilled oil and bacteria like E. coli, but officials are increasingly searching for other toxins too. New Orleans is a major rail hub and one of the major products carriers move through the city is chemicals. "We have no visual evidence from reconnaissance of leaks or spills," said Mike McDaniel, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Quality. "We have started, for lack of a better term, triage." His department is working from information provided by 17 rail companies, data the state was forced to demand under an administrative order after it had difficulty getting a complete picture of railcar contents. "Responses were a little slow and maybe not complete," McDaniel said. September 14, 2005 Reuters
Utah plans fight
against tribe's nuclear waste site
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah is
planning its challenge to a federal ruling that would allow shipments of
nuclear waste to an impoverished American Indian reservation 45 miles
southwest of Salt Lake City.
Locomotive derailment causes diesel fuel spill More
than 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel were dumped on the ground when two
locomotives derailed Sunday morning in the Union Pacific Bailey Yard. NIEHS Awards $37 Million to Train Emergency and Hazardous Waste Workers More than $37 million will go to workers involved in emergency response and hazardous waste clean-up from awards just made by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), one of the National Institutes of Health. The grants will provide training designed to protect workers and their communities from exposure to toxic materials encountered during hazardous waste operations and chemical emergency response. September 13, 2005 NIEHS Third train derailment closes U.S. 50 west of South Hutch Kansas According to Deputy Fire Chief Mike Patterson, the BNSF train had just picked up several tanker cars filled with liquefied petroleum gas from the loading rack at Ferrellgas when the accident happened. The loading rack is located on a siding track and didn't affect the nearby Union Pacific line that parallels Blanchard. Hazmat crews arrived and inspected the scene, Patterson said. They quickly determined that gas wasn't leaking from the tanker trucks, and the situation appeared to be stable. September 13th, 2005 Hutchinson News Flaws found in concrete coating at BNSF fuel depot HAUSER, Idaho -- More problems have been found at the BNSF Railway's refueling depot where several leaks were discovered earlier this year. September 12, 2005 BLET DEQ requests information from railroad companies BATON ROUGE, La. -- The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality issued an administrative order on Friday requesting information from 17 railway companies that have railcars in the area impacted by Hurricane Katrina. September 12, 2005 BLET Derail meeting set Those interested in learning more about the Cheakamus spill on Aug. 4 are invited to attend a public meeting at the North Vancouver Outdoor School on Wednesday (Sept. 14). The goal of the open house is to update the status of the river and plans for remediation of the waterway. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the outdoor school’s main auditorium. September 9th, 2005 Squamishchief.com Angry residents protest CN Rail Two Squamish residents set up picket signs beside
train tracks on Cleveland Ave. Saturday (Sept. 3) to protest CN Rail. Rick Smith and Randy Marchant said they want more patrolling of the tracks and fewer cars per train. “We’re sitting here instead of going fishing,” said Marchant. “They changed the way I live my life. I should be able to change the way they do their business.” September 9, 2005 SquamishChief.com Waiting for CN to call What would I do if a train derailed in my backyard? How would I react? Obviously, my life would change and perhaps bitterness would envelope me. I certainly would not be the same. Before I bought my house, I wanted to experience being in the house when trains went by. Six years ago, I sat on the edge of the seller’s bed to see if I could cope. I needed to know if trains affected me, and at that time they didn’t. Six years later, trains consume me. What gives? This is not the same house I moved into. With over 70 CN Train derailments to date (since January 1st, 2005), I am becoming increasingly uneasy, to say the least. When will it stop? When will I feel good about where I live? Should I worry so much or have I become a kook? Everything I’ve worked towards seems miniscule in the haze of CN’s lights at 4:45 a.m. I’ve already lost so much and I don’t feel I am willing to loose any more. September 9, 2005 Whistler Question Agency to railroads: Monitor your cargo WASHINGTON - The federal agency with oversight of the nation's railroads has finished inspecting Cincinnati's rail cars and hasn't found any other potential chemical leaks, Rep. Jean Schmidt said Thursday. The Federal Railroad Administration also will issue a national advisory to all rail operators that handle hazardous shipments, reminding them of the procedures that must be followed, said Schmidt, R-Miami Township, Clermont County. September 9th, 2005 Cincinnati Enquirer The grain train drain Missoula, MT - BNSF is spending more than $1 million to reduce the impact of the spill by putting an electric fence around the tracks and grain, and hiring the Wind River Bear Institute, which manages bears using Karelian bear dogs, to keep grizzlies away as the grain is cleared. And it didn’t have to be this way, Peck says. When the trains derailed on Aug. 26, only three freight cars spilled their grain. To clear the tracks quickly, BNSF purposefully toppled another 20 freight cars down a steep slope, spilling more grain. September 8, 2005 Missoula Independent Rail officials agree to talk WASHINGTON - Rail America and the Federal Railroad Administration have agreed to answer questions about how a tanker car that started spewing toxic fumes last week came to be abandoned in Cincinnati, Rep. Jean Schmidt said after a meeting with officials late Wednesday. But as has been the case since the tanker filled with the toxic chemical styrene first started shooting steam, answers were not immediately available. September 8, 2005 Cincinnati Enquirer Alberta should have been prepared for Wabamun Alberta Canada - Lake Wabamun is an example of the damage that can be caused by a lack of proper planning. After the initial delay before CN even attempted to contain the spilled bunker oil, containment and clean-up efforts were stunted by the lack of “specialized equipment” that neither CN nor the province’s environmental agencies had on hand. Some of the necessary equipment had to be brought in from Vancouver, while more and more oil and dangerous chemicals were leaching into the lake. The question that we must ask ourselves is, “Why?” September 8, 2005 The Gateway
MP wants rail
corridor review
Yellowhead MP Rob Merrifield has written a
letter to federal transport minister Jean Lapierre calling for a review of
safety and maintenance procedures along the Edmonton-Jasper rail corridor.
Because the rail line runs through Edson, Hinton and environmentally
sensitive areas including Jasper National Park, Merrifield said the rail
line must be operated at the highest of safety standards.
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| Quote of the week for August 31, 2005. Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken: 'Wal-Mart can track a pair of socks across the country, and you guys can't track a railcar full of dangerous chemicals?' " |
Cincinnati - Even as styrene continued spewing into the air from a rail car near Lunken Airport for the third day, businesses, residents and the mayor were calculating the costs and vowing to hold the railroad and chemical company responsible for the mounting tab. Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken said the city has already spent an estimated $1 million in responding to the toxic chemical leak that started Sunday night and has forced the evacuation of 814 properties since Monday. August 31, 2005 Cincinnati.com
Cincinnati: Demand answers on styrene leak

The car was not invisible. There were people in Cincinnati who knew exactly where it was and what was in it. A valid question asked by city officials Monday was whether the tanker was moved around to avoid regulatory inspections.
Rep. Jean Schmidt, newly elected to the district that includes the tanker scene, said a congressional hearing may be needed to sort things out. We urge her not to let up until these questions are answered.
The styrene requires a stabilizing agent to be added to the load every four months, fire officials said. If that hadn't been done since December, it could explain why pressure built up in the car until it started venting through a safety valve Sunday. However, officials said there also were reports that the car had been moved periodically and some of the styrene offloaded for use by a local customer. Using an unattended tank car essentially as a portable storage unit for toxic chemicals raises other concerns about how it is safely monitored. August 30th, 2005 Cincinnati.com
How could this happen? Loaded rail car apparently sat idle for months Cincinnati- As a toxic plume caused hundreds of East Side Cincinnati residents to flee their homes and businesses Monday, investigators focused on how a rail car filled with an unstable chemical could sit unattended for at least five months.
A curfew was in effect until 6 a.m. today. Monitoring was to continue through the night on the rail car that was leaking styrene and was a source of worry through the day and night that it could explode. August 30th, 2005 Cincinnati.com

Water fix at Wabamun may run $6M EDMONTON -- The village of Wabamun may need a $6-million pipeline to get its drinking water back on track, Mayor Larry Burton said on Sunday.
Since 43 train cars derailed earlier this month, dumping thousands of litres of fuel oil into Wabamun Lake, residents' water needs have been met by the town of Stony Plain. CN Rail has covered the cost of moving several truckloads of water -- each worth about $250 -- to the village 65 kilometres west of Edmonton every day since Aug. 3. August 29th, 2005 Edmonton Journal
| Quote for the week of
August 23rd, 2005. United Steelworkers' National Director Ken Neumann: "We want to know what CN is trying to hide. Is it the fact that materials being loaded onto trains are poorly identified? Or is it that the railway knows that its practices are dangerous and reckless? The public deserves to know." |
CN Rail: How Do We Sleep Beside an Anaconda? Canada -Should people in McBride and other towns be concerned about the safety of the rail cars that snake through their communities and roll by their lakes, rivers, farms? August 23rd, 2005 Robson
Valley Times
People exposed to gas set to be screened Graniteville, SC- The focus of the current screenings is to make sure that people who need medical care get it, health professionals emphasized. However, there also is a push to conduct long-term studies of some people who were exposed to the gas.
Though there is extensive research into the effects of chlorine, Graniteville provides a unique opportunity to observe the effects in women and children, Dr. Svendsen said. August 23rd, 2005 Augusta Chronicle
Tanker leak sparks evacuation North Platt, NE Vapor from a tanker at Bailey Yard on Monday required some of the workers around the immediate area to be evacuated. August 23rd, 2005 North Platte Telegraph
Public health department begins free screenings for Graniteville The
state's public health department on Monday began screening Graniteville
residents affected by a toxic chlorine release more than six months ago.
The state Department of Health and Environmental Control will provide free
medical screenings for those in the Graniteville area during a Jan. 6 train
derailment that killed nine people and injured hundreds when a chlorine
tanker ruptured, releasing a toxic cloud. About 5,400 were evacuated from
the area, and more than 400 people have been in contact with the agency.
August 23rd, 2005 Dateline Alabama
New Jersey officials up in arms over railroad trash depots New Jersey officials are trying to shut down open-air trash transfer depots that have sprung up next to railroads across the state, saying they use a federal loophole to avoid state environmental and health regulations. August 21, 2005 Newsday.com
Spill residents expect CN compensation Wabamun, Alta. — People around a popular recreational lake in Alberta are expecting CN Rail to compensate them for turning the area into an environmental mess. August 21, 2005 Globe and Mail
Residents in Pritchett are sick of waiting for Union Pacific to fix the tracks that run between Big Sandy and Gilmer.
"One of the hazardous chemicals that gets trucked up and down this railroad daily is chlorine," said Mike Files a Pritchett Resident. "Chlorine gas is fatal and it could have catastrophic effects." August 19th, 2005 KLTV
Foundation to help with a salmon recovery plan for
B.C.'s Squamish River watershed. It appears CN Rail is trying to boost its
environmental image and score some public relations points after a
disastrous couple of weeks. On Aug. 5, one of CN's tanker cars dumped 41,000
litres of sodium hydroxide into the Cheakamus River, decimating fish stocks
and killing some animals that consumed the fish carcasses.
August 18th, 2005 CTV.ca"It appears this settlement as proposed is fair," said U.S. District Judge Margaret Seymour.
However, two Graniteville residents testified they were unhappy with the attorney's representation, and several other objections were submitted to the court from people not involved in the class. August 17th, 2005 The State.com
Residents In Small Town Of Pritchett Texas Have Had Enough Residents in the small town of Pritchett say they have had enough after a third train derailment in just as many months took place yesterday. Seventeen Union Pacific cars derailed about 6:00 a.m. near Highway 155. Its just about a mile down the track from where two other derailments took place in May. Residents say they want something to be done and they want it to be done now. August 17th, 2005 KLTV.com
'Forgotten victims' get attention The loss of only two pets during Hurricane Charley last year shows the nation is making progress in protecting pets and farm animals during natural disasters and other emergencies, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder sociology professor. August 15th, 2005 Colorado Daily
MCI Expands Disaster Recovery Capabilities MCI announced it has expanded its Disaster Recovery capabilities for government customers to include back-up voice services that will restore incoming communications within minutes. In addition, MCI is expanding its business continuity solutions for its fastest growing service, Private IP, to include a comprehensive suite of options, enabling customers to better prepare for unforeseen events. August 15th, 2005 Yahoo
Demands will be met, CN says The provincial government Saturday handed CN Rail strict new orders that impose rigorous deadlines for cleaning up Wabamun Lake and surrounding areas contaminated by oil. Premier Ralph Klein made a flyover of the Wabamun area on Saturday.
"Seeing the damage from that vantage point made it clear to me that this has been a disaster, both for the people in the area, and for the natural environment. It's heartbreaking," the premier said in a news release. August 14th, 2005 Edmonton Journal
"Fifteen dollars, $25, $700, zero dollars, that's not fair," said Joel Miller, president of the Community Action Organization, during the group's second rally session for plaintiffs dissatisfied with their settlement checks. "It's an insult to the community, an insult to the parish."
About 16,000 plaintiffs received their shares of the $50 million settlement in May, with awards ranging from $41.50 to more than $150,000. August 13th, 2005 New Orleans Times-Picayune
Train hits gas tanker, igniting deadly fireball LUCIO BLANCO, MEXICO - A tank truck laden with liquefied propane was hit by a freight train Thursday afternoon and exploded in the center of this agricultural town, killing at least two and injuring 44 residents who sprinted for safety as roaring flames shot down the main street.
More than a dozen homes and businesses, along with 17 cars, were destroyed, police said.
"It looks like a war zone, doesn't it?" said Joseph Horn, deputy chief of the Brownsville Fire Department, as he directed a pair of firetrucks sent to help control the fire. August 12th, 2005 Houston Chronicle
Amid heightened concerns of terrorist threats to rail systems following the recent London attacks, momentum appears to be building in Baltimore and Chicago for legislation to address the possibility of attacks on rail tankers that ban advocates call rolling chemical weapons. August 11th, 2005 GovExec.com
Lawmaker pushes rail fee to aid evacuation planning CA State Sen. Nell Soto, responding to a growing concern about railroad safety in the Inland area, plans to announce today that she will push to allow local governments to charge railroads a fee for using their own tracks to raise money for increased evacuation planning. August 11th, 2005 BLET
Leadership needed in wake of spill Public confidence in the cleanup at Wabamun Lake is sinking along with the morass of bunker oil from the CN rail cars. No wonder. It's taken almost a week to find out there was another, potentially hazardous, substance leaking from one derailed car since last Wednesday. August 11th, 2005 Editorial Edmonton Journal
Toxic pole oil not listed as a dangerous good "There are so many questions that we don't, in my view, have the proper answers to, and we intend to get those answers," said Doug Goss, a spokesman for a local citizens' committee. "Not the least of which was why it took five days to determine that this stuff was leaking into the water."
Imperial found it "unfortunate and distressing" that this might have made people think the petroleum firm misrepresented the product in the rail car, said Imperial spokesman Pius Rolheiser. "Imperial provided accurate, correct and required information to meet transportation guidelines."
The material was described as "pole oil" and "Imperial pole treating oil" in documents provided to CN prior to shipping, Rolheiser said.
It doesn't fall under the Dangerous Goods Transportation Act, so Imperial did not have to provide a material safety data sheet with shipping information. August 11th, 2005 Edmonton Sun
Two CN Rail Derailments,
Two Environmental Disasters Two Canadian
National freight trains derailed last week leading to massive environmental
damage in waterways in Alberta and BC.
On Wednesday August 3, a CN train derailment poured more than 700,000 litres
of bunker fuel oil into Lake Wabamunin, a popular recreational lake west of
Edmonton. Three days later, a CN train derailed near Squamish spilling
highly toxic sodium hydroxide into the Cheakamus River. August 9th,
2005, Macleans
Forty-five of 140 train cars left the tracks last Wednesday near Wabamun. Some contained bunker C fuel oil, used in liquid asphalt and to power barges and ships. Twelve of those cars, including a car once believed to be carrying lubrication oil, leaked into the lake and surrounding shoreline.
With the assistance of CN, he said, Alberta Environment now believes the lube oil may actually be pole-treating oil from Imperial Oil.
An online fact sheet from the company says pole-treating oil is a toxic mineral oil used to preserve wood products. It contains polycyclic aromatic compounds that can be cancerous after prolonged or repeated exposure to them.
"It's extremely scary that five days after this crash, they just now detect something highly solvent and toxic was released," said Doug Goss, speaking for a residents' group. August 9th, 2005 Edmonton Sun
Sierra Club calls for Wabamun charges An environmental group says Canadian National should be prosecuted for spills that have contaminated Alberta's Lake Wabamun and the Cheakamus River north of Vancouver.
The Sierra Club of Canada says spills from the two train derailments have been catastrophic for fish, birds and other aquatic life. August 9th, 2005 Edmonton Journal
CN rail derailment leaves line blocked It may be days before the wreckage of a train that derailed near Squamish this weekend is cleared.
CN says it has to wait for a toxic load of sodium hydroxide that was in one of the nine derailed cars to stabilize before it can be moved. Some of the corrosive liquid, commonly used in paper products and detergent, spilled into the Cheakamus River when part of the 144-car CN freight train derailed Friday. August 8th, 2005 Vancouver 24 hours
Rail
cars: Rolling targets
Each year,
about 1.7 million rail cars loaded with hazardous materials roll past small
neighborhoods and major metropolitan areas.
A major spill in South Salt Lake earlier this year and other recent
accidents highlight the risk posed by the chemical shipments, particularly
in an age of heightened awareness of terrorist attacks - and have prompted
mayors and some senators to demand action. August 7th, 2005 Salt
Lake Tribune
Strength in numbers Another legislator and two conservation organizations have gotten involved in the battle to stop a railroad company from using transfer stations in North Bergen as dumping grounds for trash and other materials. United States Rep. Robert Menendez (D-13th Dist.) introduced federal legislation that will allow state and local officials to prevent railroads from operating garbage dumps that pose a serious threat to the air and water of the area. August 7th, 2005 Hudson Reporter
Albertans angered by CN oil spill response More than 100 angry protesters blocked a Canadian National railway crossing Friday to express their anger at what they called the company's poor response to a freight train derailment and oil spill on the lake where they live. Company officials also held a two-hour meeting with residents and protesters Friday after failing to show up to a scheduled meeting earlier in the day. August 6th, 2005 BLET
BNSF train derails in Boulder, Colorado A train hauling molten sulfur through east Boulder derailed Friday afternoon, backing up traffic for 2 1/2 hours after it blocked crossings at two major thoroughfares. August 6th, 2005 BLET
Lawsuit against Montana Rail Link Dismissed Claims that a negligent inspection led to a November 2000 train derailment and extensive chemical spill in Scottsbluff were properly dismissed by a lower court, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday. August 3rd, 2005 Missoulian
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Quote of the week, Senator
Joe Biden, August 3rd, 2005:
The potential death toll of a
tanker attack is staggering. The Chlorine Institute has
estimated that an assault on a chlorine tanker could create
a toxic cloud extending up to 15 miles.
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City leaders hope coalition can influence railroad policies
Some South Carolina
city government leaders are forming a coalition that they hope will force
railroad companies to work more cooperatively with local communities.
"There's a real disconnect between local government and railroads,"
Orangeburg city administrator John Yow told a group of officials at a
meeting of the Municipal Association of South Carolina last week.
That was highlighted after a train wreck earlier this year in Graniteville,
Yow said. Nine people died on Jan. 6 when a Norfolk Sou