At approximately 1:00 am on June 13, 2008, a northbound train in Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin derailed due to flooding in the area. One locomotive and two cars were involved. Approximately 1,200 gallons of diesel and oil product leaked from the wreckage into Johnson Creek which leads into Lake Winnebago. The majority of the contamination impacted Johnson Creek and several residential homes along the creek.
The Responsible Party (RP), CN Railroad, hired Veolia Environmental Services to deploy boom and sorbent pads to contain the release, recover petroleum product from the creek and the wrecked locomotive (with vacuum trucks), remove petroleum contaminated soil and debris along the creek, and decontaminate riprap.
The tracks were repaired and train traffic resumed at approximately 11:30 pm on June 13, 2008.
CN removed the derailed locomotive and boxcars on June 18, 2008. Additional oil was recovered from the locomotive using a vacuum truck prior to pulling the locomotive from the ditch. An undetermined quantity of fuel oil was recovered from the fuel tank after the locomotive was righted onto the tracks. A small amount of engine oil was released along the tracks as the locomotive was removed. The oil was contained to the track area using booms and plastic sheeting. No additional petroleum product entered Johnson Creek during the locomotive extraction.
U.S EPA and WDNR officials are closely overseeing the cleanup of the spill. US EPA and CN contractors are performing air monitoring around the subdivisions adjacent to the incident location. VOC concentrations have been consistent with expected normal background levels, despite a prevalent odor in the neighborhood. US EPA also collected surface water samples in Johnson Creek and Lake Winnebago to confirm the efficacy of the control measures being utilized by CN.
Drinking water utilities possibly affected were notified by WDNR, and local mariners were notified to stay away from oil sheen on Lake Winnebago. CN is testing private wells potentially impacted by the spill.
Informational flyers explaining the incident and response actions were distributed to neighboring residents on June 14, 2008. CN officials are meeting individually with impacted residents.
Cleanup activities are expected to take approximately two weeks. CN contractor crews are removing visibly contaminated vegetation, soil, and riprap. The contaminated area under the locomotive is being excavated and the remaining debris from the derailment and track repair is being removed. Soil and water samples will be taken throughout the impacted area to determine the extent of non-visible contamination and to ultimately confirm that all contamination is removed. Boom is being maintained throughout the creek to continue to prevent any disturbed petroleum product from reaching Lake Winnebago.
CN has submitted a Response Action Work Plan. EPA and WDNR are preparing comments on the Work Plan. Once the Work Plan is finalized, the scope of work for the removal will expand from surface cleanup to a more extensive assessment study and corresponding cleanup measures.
Community relations continues to be a high priority for CN and the responding agency officials. Residents have numerous questions regarding the process for cleaning up the non-contaminated flood related damage.
The appropriate drainage capacity of the culvert that washed away is being re-evaluated by CN, WDNR, and local officials to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.
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