U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Tiskilwa Train Derailment - Removal Polrep
Initial Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region V
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Subject:
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POLREP #1
Initial
Tiskilwa Train Derailment
Tiskilwa, IL
Latitude: 41.2899170 Longitude: -89.4909970
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To:
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Mike Ribordy, US EPA
Charlie Gebien, US EPA
Jason El-zein, US EPA
Doug Ballotti, US EPA
Rick Karl, US EPA
Mark Johnson, ATSDR
Michael Chezik, DOI
Andrew Raddant, DOI
Sherry Fielding, US EPA
Jim Clark, Illinois EPA
Tim DePaepe, NTSB
Mark Koller, US EPA
John Hahn, USCG
Carol Ropski, U.S. EPA
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From:
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Leonard Zintak, On-Scene Coordinator
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Date:
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10/8/2011
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Reporting Period:
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10/7/11-10/8/11
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
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Contract Number: |
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D.O. Number: |
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Action Memo Date: |
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Response Authority: |
CERCLA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
EPA |
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Incident Category: |
Removal Action |
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NPL Status: |
Non NPL |
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Operable Unit: |
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Mobilization Date: |
10/7/2011 |
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Start Date: |
10/7/2011 |
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Demob Date: |
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Completion Date: |
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CERCLIS ID: |
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RCRIS ID: |
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ERNS No.: |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency
Response
1.1.2 Site Description
The Tiskilwa Train Derailment Site is located at
Railroad MP 122.4 in Tiskilwa, Bureau County, Illinois. Nine of the derailed train cars contained
ethanol. Several ethanol cars caught fire and ethanol was spilled. At this time
it is unknown how much ethanol has been released. The fire is currently under control. The incident occurred at 0255 on October
7, 2011 and was reported to the NRC at 0441 on October 7, 2011.
1.1.2.1 Location
The Tiskilwa Train Derailment Site is located at
Railroad MP 122.4 in Tiskilwa, Bureau County, Illinois.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The chemical involved in this incident involves
Denatured Ethanol. The Denatured Ethanol
is 95%-98% Ethanol and 2-5% Gasoline.
The benzene content is estimated less than 0.1%. The chemicals of concerns are Benzene,
Ethanol, Particulates and Carbon Monoxide. Benzene is a known carcinogen. Particulates in the air can cause adverse health
risks.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
The Tiskilwa Train Derailment Site is located at
Railroad MP 122.4 in Tiskilwa, Bureau County, Illinois. OSC Len Zintak and the START contractors, mobilized to begin emergency response activities on October
7, 2011. Iowa Interstate Railroad (PRP) reported that a large train derailment (96
cars) occurred in Tiskilwa, Illinois. Nine of the derailed train cars contained
ethanol. Several ethanol cars caught fire and ethanol was spilled. At this time
it is unknown how much ethanol spilled. Reportedly ¼ to a ½ mile of cars derailed. Local officials initially evacuated residents living in a half mile radius of the derailment. As of October 7, 2011, 40 to 45 homes were still evacuated. START
contractors and railroad contractors are conducting perimeter air monitoring
with AreaRAEs and MultiRAEs. In addition, START is collecting water samples and is monitoring water quality in Plow Hollow Creek and Big Bureau Creek. Big Bureau Creek flows towards the
east and into the Illinois River at approximately 8 miles downstream. Water quality monitoring will be conducted as needed at the Illinois River.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
On October 7, 2011, U.S. EPA was notified
of the incident through the NRC. OSC Len
Zintak mobilized START contractors to begin emergency response activities on
October 7, 2011. U.S. EPA START
contractors are conducting 24 hour air monitoring with AreaRAEs, MultiRAEs and
personal particulate meters. VOC
readings range from 1 ppm to 3 ppm and particulate readings ranged from
0.01 to 0.6 milligrams per cubic meter. ATSDR has recommended an ambient air residential evacuation action level specific for ethanol at 500 ppm. Water monitoring was conducted in Plow Hollow
Creek and Big Bureau Creek. START is utilizing
an YSI water quality meter, which is monitoring for pH, conductivity, dissolved
oxygen, temperature and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). All readings were within acceptable
limits. Illinois EPA collected water
samples and will run analysis for parameters including VOCs, SVOCs, pH and dissolved
oxygen. On October 8, 2011 START collected water and air
samples for parameters including VOCs and pH.
The local
fire departments from surrounding communities have been conducting fire
fighting operations, which include the application of fire suppression foam
and water. The water and foam is being
used to cool down the burning ethanol rail cars. Up to 1.2 million gallons of water and foam is
being applied per day. The run-off does
not appear to be flowing down gradient toward the east and it may be absorbing into
the soil in the vicinity of the derailment. The migration of the firefighting water runoff will be monitored closely.
The Iowa
Interstate Railroad (PRP) contractors have constructed earthen containment
berms along the railroad tracks toward the east to help contain the water. Railroad contractors have conducted air monitoring
and sampling, as well as surface water sampling. Ethanol product is being off-loaded from one
of the rail cars into tanker trucks for removal from the Site.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The Iowa Interstate Railroad is the PRP and has
assumed responsibility for the mitigation of the incident.
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
1)
U.S. EPA will continue 24 hour real-time air monitoring and will oversee the PRP
air monitoring activities conducted by their contractor CTEH.
2) U.S. EPA will conduct air, water and soil sampling, as needed.
3) U.S. EPA is coordinating with the PRP, Bureau County Health Department
and with IEPA to investigate the need to sample private residential wells in
the vicinity of the derailment.
2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
See
Section 2.2.1
2.2.1.2 Next Steps
See
Section 2.2.1
2.2.2 Issues
None.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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NA
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2.4 Finance Section
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2.4.1 Narrative
START
funded for $50,000
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Budgeted |
Total To Date |
Remaining |
% Remaining |
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Extramural Costs
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$50,000.00 |
$15,000.00 |
$35,000.00 |
70.00% |
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Intramural Costs
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| Total Site Costs |
$50,000.00 |
$15,000.00 |
$35,000.00 |
70.00% |
* The above accounting of expenditures is an estimate based on figures known to the OSC at the time this report was written. The OSC does not necessarily receive specific figures on final payments made to any contractor(s). Other financial data which the OSC must rely upon may not be entirely up-to-date. The cost accounting provided in this report does not necessarily represent an exact monetary figure which the government may include in any claim for cost recovery.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
All
work was conducted under a health and safety plan.
2.6
Public Information Officer
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has a PIO on scene and is
addressing all inquiries from the media at this time.
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
The
Unified Command consist of local fire departments, law enforcement, county health
departments, Illinois EPA, Illinois EMA,
Illinois DOT, Illinois DNR, U.S. EPA, OSHA, NTSB, FRA and FBI.
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
See
Section 3.1
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4. Personnel On Site
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U.S
EPA OSC - 1
START - 5
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5. Definition of Terms
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No
information available at this time.
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6. Additional sources of information
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NA
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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No
information available at this time.
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POLREP #1 Last Updated 10/21/2011
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