On the evening of 2/11/05 a Kansas City Train derailment as a result of a faulty line in Ackerman, Mississippi. One locomotive involved in the incident released 1,200 gallons of diesel. The fuel followed through a culvert underneath the rail line into the Bogue Fallah Creek. The spill covered an area 1.5 - 2.0 miles long. The majority of this area was inaccessible.
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and EPA responded. Kansas City Southern hired USES to conduct the removal action. Various stages of boom and absorbent were placed to catch the fuel and prevent further movement. A collection point was established at the lowest end of the spill. A vacuum truck was utilized to remove the majority of the diesel from the creek. Continued movement of the creek facilitated this effort. By 2/13/05 all the diesel had moved done to the collection point with only small pockets remaining. A final walk was conducted in the creek upstream to locate any additional pockets.
Any additional removal actions will be addressed by MDEQ and Kansas City Southern. It is anticipated that most of the fuel was successfully removed from the creek.
MDEQ is expected to conduct a final assessment of the incident.
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