United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region VI
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

On May 17, 2008, at 0648 hours the National Response Center was notified of a train derailment and subsequent hydrochloric acid release near railroad milepost 147.1 in Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. (NRC No. 871199). At approximately 0130 hours on May 17, 2008, six rail cars attached to a Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) train (No.RGFC311117) derailed under the Louisiana Highway (LH) 3184 overpass.  Two of the derailed cars were carrying fatty alcohol, three were carrying hydrochloric acid (HCl) and one was carrying ethylene oxide (EO).  The remaining 17 railcars and two locomotives did not derail.  It was reported that an unknown volume of HCL had leaked from one of the derailed cars.  The Louisiana State Police HazMat Unit assumed control of the incident and issued an evacuation order for all residences and businesses within a one mile radius of the site.  The cause of the derailment has not been determined, at this time.  BNSF representatives reported the incident to the NRC and assumed responsibility for the cleanup as the responsibile party (RP).  BNSF has contracted Hulcher Services Inc. of Port Allen, Louisiana to manage the movement and restaging of the derailed cars.  The RP has also contracted United States Environmental Services (USES) of Gonzales, Louisiana to manage HCL clean up activities.  Lyondell is the manufacturer of the ethylene oxide and has provided Specialized Response Solutions (SRS) of Houston, Texas to provide assistance with the handling of the derailed ethylene oxide railcar.

On May 17, 2008, FOSC Zehner, who was conducting a removal action in the area, and START3 members mobilized to the incident site to conduct emergency response activities and provide assistance as requested by the State.  The FOSC and START3 met with incident command officials and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) representatives at both the Incident Command Post and the Forward Command Post.  LDEQ and the Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH) collected continuous perimeter air monitoring for acid gas and chlorine gas.  Air monitoring readings at the perimeter were below action levels.  Air sampling results are expected to become available some time in the following week.

BNSF subcontractors used approximately 270 tons of agriculture grade lime to neutralize the HCL on the ground in the vicinity of the ethylene oxide railcar (west side of bridge).  After the spilled HCL was nuetralized, a section of I-10 was closed as a precaution while Hulcher Services restaged the overturned EO railcar back onto the railroad.  This process took approximately 2 hours and was completed at approximately 2100 hours.  No EO material was reported to have leaked from the derailed car. RP contractors continued to work on neutralizing the remaining spilled HCL (east side of the bridge). As of May 18, 2008, all six derailed cars were uprighted and restaged on the railroad.  BNSF subcontractors continued to neutralize the remaining contents of the damaged HCl railcar.  After neutralization was completed the contents were removed and stored in poly tanks pending disposal.

On May 19, 2008 START3 returned to the incident site to observe and document ongoing response activities.  On May 19, 2008 Louisiana State Police delegated the role as Incident Commander to the LDEQ, as clean-up operations were transitioning from a response to a remedial action.

As of 1830 May 18, 2008 the evacuation area had been reduced from a 1 mile radius to 1,000 feet and all evacuated residents were allowed to return.  By 1200 May 19, 2008 the evacuation (restricted access) radius had been reduced to 250 feet of the derailment site.  The LH 3184 overpass remained closed, due to the proximity to the spill and the ongoing inspection of the bridge by Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LDOTD) officials, until 1800 hrs on May 19, 2008.  

At approximately 1000 on this date, the LDEQ approved BNSF to utilize the undamaged main rail line for daily traffic.  BNSF officials have briefed all site personnel of the pending rail traffic, and a system of horns will notify personnel of the train’s location.

BNSF and their contractors continued response and repair activities at the incident site and at the BNSF rail yard approximately one mile to the east of the site.   BNSF, at the direction of LDEQ, collected eight background soil samples and determined an average pH of 5.5.  This average will be used as cleanup criteria for the excavation and remediation activities to be conducted within the spill area.    Soils were excavated from the drainage ditches and surrounding areas south of the derailment.  

Workers are currently removing damaged portions of the railroad to permit excavation of contaminated ballast and soil from the rail bed.  Sections of damaged track are lifted from the rail bed using specialized equipment, decontaminated using high pressure water, and stockpiled north of the spill area.   Once the damaged rail has been removed, BNSF plans to excavate 18 inches of soil and ballast.  Field pH testing will be collected from the bottom of the excavation, and a determination will be made as to whether further removal is necessary.

USES, SRS, and Environmental Safety and Health (ES&H) crews have staged the one HCl tank car which BNSF has determined to be unacceptable for transporting to their Houston facility, at the Lafayette rail yard.  Crews are utilizing specialized pumps to remove the acid from the tank car, and into an approved tank truck.  The remaining HCl tank car will be transported to the Houston facility at a later date.  A BNSF construction contractor is constructing replacement sections of railroad at the rail yard and will transport the sections to the derailment site upon completion of the removal of contaminated soil.

LDEQ and CTEH continued to provide air monitoring and sampling activities at the evacuation perimeter.  To date, air monitoring readings have not exceeded the action level for acids or chlorine.

Revised estimates indicate approximately 10,000 gallons of HCl spilled and 5,500 gallons of free product (neutralized with lime) were recovered.  The remainder of the HCl is assumed to be within the excavated and yet to be excavated soil.    

The FOSC demobilized START-3 from the site at 1600 hours on May 19, 2008.  No additional on-site activity is planned by the FOSC or START-3.

Remediation of the contaminated soils and repair of the tracks will continue.  BNSF and LDEQ estimate that all remediation will be completed as of May 21, 2008.

START-3 will follow-up with BNSF and LDEQ officials to determine on-going remedial actions and response completion.

The 250 foot exclusion zone radius will remain in effect until removal action has been completed.  No businesses or residents are expected to be affected by this zone.