July 3, 2015

• The breached tank car was assessed and determined to empty. All of the product was either consumed in the fire or released to the rail bed.
• The damaged, but non-leaking car of acrylonitrile was pulled away from the breached tank car
• Air monitoring throughout the exclusion zone and evacuated areas continued.
• Underflow dams were installed in drainage paths from the release area
• Containment and absorbent boom were installed in the adjacent creek
• Surface water monitoring was implemented.
• Laydown and work areas were cleared/established
• Two near-by industrial wells were sampled and sent for analysis. Screening indicated that these wells were not contaminated.
• Plans were developed and implemented to remove the product from the un-breached tank car damaged by the fire. 
• Between 5000 and 6000 people were evacuated/impacted
• 95 people (10 were emergency responders) were seen at three hospitals. 42 (10 were emergency responders) of the 95 were admitted for observation.
• CSX has provided temporary housing for approximately 1500 residents.
• A Community Out Reach Center was established at the Heritage Middle School. 3737 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy. CSX and CSX contractors addressed claims, private well sampling, air monitoring questions, reentry questions, water distribution, etc. EPA, State and Local agencies had a presence at the Community Out-Reach Center to address concerns.

July 4, 2015

• Evacuation order was lifted by Unified Command (UC) at Noon or 07/03/2015
• Adjacent well (2 wells) sampling results were received. Concentration of acrylonitrile was less than 0.5 ug/L. The RML for drinking water is 5 ug/L. The recommend restrictions for private drinking water wells was lifted by UC at 1700 hours.
• Breached tank car was moved from the rail. There was residual vapor in the car that was purged and flared with propane. Crews also removed acrylonitrile saturated insulation.
• Transfer operations from the damaged acrylonitrile tank car was completed at 0700 hours this morning.
• Soil remediation plans were submitted to UC and approved after required modifications.
• Soil delineation and excavation operations are ongoing. 700 cubic yards of soil excavated to date and staged pending disposal. Free product has been found.
• Area received a large amount of rain. Underflow dams, containment booms, absorbent booms were maintained.
• 21 private drinking water wells have been sampled by CSX.
• Air monitoring continued throughout work area and the community. No issues found in the community. Soil excavation area requires respiratory protection.
• 2 EPA Community Involvement Coordinators (CIC) joined the Community Out-Reach Operations. ATSDR developed a fact sheet for the response.
• Two contaminated soil staging areas were established. Air monitoring stations were installed and secondary containment measures built. Soil piles were covered when not actively adding waste.
• 116 residents have been seen by local hospitals. 42 of the 116 were admitted for observation and typically released after 24 hours.

• The surface water sample results were received and dissolved acrylonitrile was detected in the water column in samples from Culton Creek. 

  • Surface Water Sample Results:

    • DSW1: 47 mg/L
    • DSW2: 8.2 mg/L
    • DSW3: 5.6 mg/L
    • DSW4: non-detect
• A Region Response Team call was conducted at 1500 hours on Sunday July 5, 2015 to inform Natural Resource Trustees and discuss remediation plans moving forward
• Excavation is continuing; however, product pooled into the excavation. Vacuum trucks removed the pooled product, waiting on an update on the volume of liquid waste. To date approximately 3000 cubic yards of soil has been excavated.
• Unified Command has expanded the surface water protection/sampling operations to cover from the derailment site to the Tennessee River. Downstream receptors had been identified and the additional surface water sample locations were chosen based on this information.
• Drinking water well samples results continue to be received and there are currently no issues with private wells. Plans are being developed to sample private wells daily. Public drinking water intakes are up river/upstream from the derailment site.
• Equipment and personnel to complete the aeration/air sparge operations have mobilized to the site.
• Air monitoring continued throughout work areas and the community. No issues found in the community.
• Additional sample teams, ecological toxicologists/scientist and resources have mobilized to the site.
• A fish mortality event was observed early evening on July 5th, 2015. An advisory was issued and residents were ask to stay away from Culton Creek until additional investigations were completed. Three aeration treatment systems were installed through out the two mile segment nearest to the derailment.
• 38 residents requested indoor air monitoring.

No further response operations are anticipated by EPA Emergency Response. CSXT will completed remedial activities and oversight transferred to Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.