At approximately 10:30 p.m. EDT the National Response Center received notification of a derailment on the Norfolk-Southern rail line near the rural township of Trenton, Edgefield County, South Carolina involving approximately between 36 to 39 cars (two engines included) mile post marker R162.5. The cause of the derailment was a fallen tree over the tracks due to the passage of storms earlier in the evening. Initial assessment by first responders involved an erroneous report of wreckage of multiple hazardous materials cars including anhydrous ammonia and sulfuric acid and description of “minimal” release and with no catastrophic cargo release. A precautionary evacuation of 1.5 miles was implemented by first responders. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) Duty Officer contacted Region 4 Duty Officer to request assistance in the response efforts. Region 4 Duty Officer deployed R1 (OSC Englert) and dispatched START with EPA-QSI Warehouse equipment support. As the response progressed throughout the evening, the evacuation radius was retracted down to residential in close proximity to the incident. An updated NRC Report was issued by the RP and the inventory of involved cars containing hazmat or materials of concern was refined down to minimal involvement and non-hazmat spillage from Ammonium Nitrate and Kaolin cars. Contractors for the RP are actively involved with wreckage operations and mitigation of spillage.
Media interest is very high due to proximity of the incident to Augusta, Georgia and the Masters Golf Tournament as well as the tragic Graniteville, South Carolina chlorine cargo derailment from 2005.
