At approximately 01:15 on July 2, 2015, EPA was notified of a train derailment in Maryville, Tn. The impacted rail car is carrying acrylonitrile, which caught fire after the derailment. Local authorities have evacuated 1.5 mile radius around the derailment, impacting up to 5,000 residents. EPA On-Scene Coordinator’s Eichinger and Harper along with EPA Emergency Response Contractor mobilized to conduct air monitoring and water quality monitoring. Culton Creek is located in close proximity to the derailment site.
UPDATE: OSC Eichinger has entered into Unified Command with Local authorities and CSX. A 1.5 mile evacuation zone around the site is still in effect. A reported 12 responders have been hospitalized with exposure symptoms. EPA is currently conducting roving air monitoring activities around the evacuation zone. CSX has mobilized a product specialist to provide technical support to on-site personnel. The 45th Civil Support Team (CST) from Nashville has been requested to provide air monitoring support as well. Media interest remains high.
UPDATE: The fire was extinguished on Friday, July 3rd. The evacuated residents were allowed to reoccupy their residences at noon on Friday July 3rd. Surface water sample results were received and there are now detections of acrylonitrile (dissolved in water column) in samples from Culton Creek. No free product has been observed floating on the surface water. The highest concentrations were found in the surface water interface nearest to the derailment site and decrease to non-detect 2-miles downstream. A Region Response Team call was conducted at 1500 hours on Sunday July 5, 2015 to inform Natural Resource Trustees and discuss remediation plans moving forward. Unified Command has expanded the surface water protection/sampling operations to cover from the derailment site to the Tennessee River. Downstream receptors had been identified and the additional surface water sample locations were chosen based on this information. Drinking water well samples results continue to be received and there are currently no issues with private wells. Public drinking water intakes are up river/upstream from the derailment site. Excavation is complete and rail restoration operations began. Approximately 4000 tons of soil has been excavated. A fish mortality event was observed early evening on July 5th, 2015. An advisory was issued and residents were ask to stay away from Culton Creek until additional investigations were completed. Three aeration treatment systems were installed through out the two mile segment nearest to the derailment.
Update: By the evening of July 6th, soil excavation had been completed. Approximately 4,000 tons of soil was removed and staged pending receipt of sample results and disposal arrangements. The breached tank car was decontaminated. Excavation was back-filled. Rail line and service was restored. Acrylonitrile levels in Culton Creek were decreasing and the advisory for the creek was lifted on July 7th. Acrylonitrile was found in a private well directly adjacent to and within ~300ft of the derailment site. The property was a construction company where all response operation were conducted. The property owner was advised to not to use the water and temporary municipal water was installed. Well sampling continued throughout the 1-mile radius of the site and no other detections were observed. Plans to further assess and mitigate the ground water contamination were developed and implemented. Equipment and additional resources were mobilized. Teams completed a door to door survey to identify all properties wiht 1/2 mile radius of the derailment site and implement daily monitoring. 8 ground water monitoring wells were installed around the derailment site. Media interest was still high. OSC Eichinger demobilized on the evening of July 7th and oversight transferred to Tennessee Department of Environmental Quality.
