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UP Derailment

 
Site Contact:
Mike McAteer
OSC

(mcateer.mike@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Highland Dr at UP Overpass
Denison, TX 75020
 response.epa.gov/UPTRAINDERAILMENT
NRC#: 1014077

An anonymous caller reported to the NRC that a ditch and creek had been impacted from a train derailment that occurred during the first week of June. OSC McAteer was dipatched to the scene and is currently conducting an assessment of the situation.


Dead fauna observed in Shawnee Creek after secondary release. Backfilling of the rail road track. Flushing of the rail road track with a solution of Sulfamic Acid and water at a pH 5. Solidified soda ash that was removed from underneath the rail road track. Undercutting to remove contaminated soil underneath the rail road track. Rolling of hopper car # FMLX 51360 Staging area for contaminated soil, soil is bermed and covered. Super sacks filled with soda ash staged for removal off site by owners. Emptying of second hopper car started utilizing augur. First hopper car was emptied and moved to staging area. Cleared land on west side of Highland Drive to create staging area for empty hopper cars. Interceptor trench that was created along the drainage ditch on the railroad easement to mitigate offsite impacts from runoff. Removal of soda ash from the first hopper car utilizing an augur. Poly lined and bermed area for on-site soil storage. Staged frac tanks on-site for waste water storage. Fresh water flushing of roadside ditch along Highland Drive. Water in Shawnee Creek. UP contractor removing the water in Shawnee Creek. Vacuum truck being utilized at Shawnee Creek. Unknown dark liquid leaving the source area and running into a nearby ditch. Derailment site showing several overturned cars. Upside down hopper car. Caustic soda is present around and underneath the car. Derailed hopper car surrounded by debris. Caustic soda and an unknown brown liquid is present around the hopper car. Derailed hopper car showing caustic soda inside the car. Derailed hopper car with caustic soda and an unknown dark liquid around and underneath the car. Affected Shawnee creek behind land owners property. Pooled product in ditch Impacted ditch with product
For additional information, visit the Pollution/Situation Report (Pol/Sitreps) section.