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Macdona Union Pacific Train Derailment

All POLREP's for this site Macdona Union Pacific Train Derailment
Macdona, TX - EPA Region VI
POLREP #13 - POLREP #13
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On-Scene Coordinator - Scott Harris, Ph.D. 7/11/2004
Emergency - Removal Assessment Pollution Report (POLREP) #13
Start Date: 6/28/2004
Pollution Report (POLREP) #13
Site Description
The site is SW of San Antonio near Macdona, Bexar County, Texas.  Spilled or released products include 60 tons of chlorine, 10,000 gallons of diesel, 1000 gallons of lubricant oil, and a still to be determined amount of ammonium nitrate solution.  The weather remains hot with rain showers in the area.

Current Activities
Union Pacific (UP) reports that the tank car was empty of residual chlorine vapor by 0030 hours, and the air-vacuuming process is now complete.

CTEH monitored the interior of the tank car for chlorine at several points, with no detections.

At 0820 hours START deactivated the EPA-START AreaRaes in the inner perimeter.  CTEH deactived their inner perimeter at approximately 1200.

Tanker loads of sodium hypochlorite will continue to leave the site for processing by Oxy until all of the product is removed from the site.

UP is preparing the area around the chlorine tank to lay/repair the remaining tracks.

Spilled Ammonium Nitrate is being transferred from derailed cars to active cars.

TCEQ Strike Team demobilized at approximately 1200.

EPA provided oversite while CTEH cleared the remaining homes as reported by the UP claims department.

UP is in discussion with County Fire Marshall as to when residents will be allowed to return to their homes and how to safely manage traffic through the work zone.

UP reported that the injured worker transported to the hospital last night was able to report to work this morning and continued working at the site.

START is compiling data, and is in process of demobilizing.  If demobilization continues as planned, START will complete demobe on 12 July.

The CTEH data package has not been delivered, but discussions with their people confirm that it is in progress and will come ASAP to FOSC Harris.


Planned Removal Actions
UP will continue cleanup and salvage of remaining derailed cars.

Next Steps
Demobe

Resident return-to-home strategy.


Key Issues
The chlorine car is empty and ready for examination by NTSB.

Air monitoring is terminated.

Federal and state resource demobe.

CTEH data package.