1.1.1 Incident Category

Emergency response to freight train derailment and release of ethanol.

1.1.2 Site Description

 In the evening of 3/1/2016 13 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed.  Two of four ethanol cars began leaking.  A propane tank car also derailed but was not compromised. 

1.1.2.1 Location

The incident occurred in Ripley, NY, a small community in Chautauqua County in western NY near Lake Erie.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Ethanol is a flammable liquid that is miscible in water.  Unless deluged with water, an ethanol-fueled fire can spread quickly when water is used for firefighting.  The threat is from a fire spreading from the ethanol cars and involving the adjacent propane cars, possibly resulting in a BLEVE.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

A Region 2 OSC has been on the scene since early 3/2/2016.  He reports that the leaking tank car is losing about 1 gallon of product a minute but the car is being off-loaded into frac tanks.  The second ethanol  tank car and the propane car will also be off-loaded.

Air monitoring by local Haz-Mat first responders showed no levels of contamination above background.

2.1.1 Narrative

In the aftermath of the derailment, residents within 1,000 feet of the site of the release have been evacuated and relocated to hotels and/or temporary shelters.  There have been no fatalities or injuries as a result of this incident.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date

Norfolk Southern (NS) is transferring ethanol from the tank cars to frac tanks as temporary storage.  NS is preparing to transfer the propane from the tank cars to trucks.  Air monitoring by County Haz-mat responders shows no levels of contamination above background.

Some ethanol leaked into an adjacent culvert and is believed to be contained therein.  Very low temperatures are keeping VOC vapors very low, reducing the risk of any vapor ignition.

 R2 EPA is sending a team of technical contractors to the scene to assist state and local agencies with air monitoring, and also air sampling if needed.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

The RP in this instance is the Norfolk Southern Railroad.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

See below.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

NS will continue to transfer ethanol from the tank cars to frac tanks.  The propane cars will be emptied into highway trucks.  County Haz-Mat will continue to perform air monitoring.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

Following the transfer of ethanol and propane, the other cars involved in the derailment will be righted and moved off the scene.  The NYSDEC will ensure that any contaminated soil will be remediated once the incident is over.  At some point in the response local officials will call off the evacuation.

EPA will maintain one OSC at the scene and the contractor air monitoring team until all the cars are emptied and/or righted and hauled off-site.

2.2.2 Issues

None.

3.1 Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

NYSDEC

Chautauqua County 

USEPA

One OSC from R-2 USEPA