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Livingston Train Derailment

All POL/SITREP's for this site Livingston Train Derailment
Livingston, AL - EPA Region IV
POLREP #1
Initial POLREP/FINAL 		Printer Friendly  |   PDF
 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Livingston Train Derailment - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV
Subject: POLREP #1
Initial POLREP/FINAL
Livingston Train Derailment

Livingston, AL
Latitude: 32.6383811 Longitude: -88.1680083

To:
From: Dean Ullock, On Scene Coordinator
Date: 2/9/2011
Reporting Period: 2/11/2011

1. Introduction
  1.1 Background
   
Site Number:      Contract Number:  
D.O. Number:      Action Memo Date:  
Response Authority: CERCLA    Response Type: Emergency
Response Lead: PRP    Incident Category: Removal Action
NPL Status: Non NPL    Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date: 2/9/2011    Start Date: 2/9/2011
Demob Date:      Completion Date: 2/9/2011
CERCLIS ID:    RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:    State Notification:
FPN#:    Reimbursable Account #:


1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response

1.1.2 Site Description
The derailment was located near Livingston, Alabama, 3 miles south of Hennagan Road.  Man made waterbodies were situated on each side of the railroad track.

1.1.2.1 Location
North of Livingston, Sumter County, Alabama

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
On 2/9/2011 at approximately 0628hrs (eastern) a northbound, Norfolk Southern freight train pulling 121 railcars and 3 locomotives and travelling at approximately 17 mph derailed near the "Parker" siding which is located near Livingston, AL. Five of the derailed rail cars carried HAZMAT including 2 ea. chlorine, 2 ea. sodium hydroxide, and 1 ea. turpentine.  No HAZMAT was release from any of the five HAZMAT railcars.Nearby surface waters were not impacted by this release.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
Norfolk Southern's dispatch office originally reported that an estimated 5 tank cars carrying hazardous materials were involved, two of which were full chlorine cars and three of which were empty cars of residual sodium hydroxide (2 cars) and turpentine (1 car).  EPA telephone duty was initially unable to contact personnel responding in the field.  Due to the potential release hazards, EPA Alabama Outpost OSC Ullock was deployed to the event to oversee response operations.
2. Current Activities
  2.1 Operations Section
    2.1.1 Narrative
By 0930hrs, field personnel reported that a total of 7 tank cars had derailed, all of which were empty with residuals, and that the chlorine cars had not derailed at all.  Field personnel also confirmed that there were no observed leaks and that the locomotive fuel tanks had not ruptured.  Sumter County EMA Director was on-scene to oversee response operations.  OSC Ullock was dispatched to the incident from his Mobile, AL office at approximately 0930 hrs.  At approximately 1300 hrs. (CDT) NFS, ADEM and EPA met at the scene.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
The PRP has mobilized response contractors for cleanup and environmental remediation - if necessary.  Upon arrival at approx. 1300 OSC Ullock met the NFS Environmental Manager and hazardous material Compliance Officer along with ADEM officials.  These individuals conducted a walkthrough of the derailment scene.  No release of HAZMAT was noted or observed.  

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
The PRP is leading response efforts at the site. Local, county, state, and federal responders coordinated oversight and support activities.  While enroute to the scene OSC Ullock consulted with the US FWS Field Office located in Daphne, Alabama and was informed that a nearby river (Sutarnoochee River) was listed as a"critical habitat" with 4 endangered species of mussel.  OSC Ullock immediately relayed this information to the NFS representative in charge on scene.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics
N/A
  2.2 Planning Section
   

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities
The PRP led lead response and removal efforts at the Site.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
  • Oversight of PRP response activities
  • Air monitoring was not necessary
  • Coordination with RP, State responders occurred on-scene.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps
OSC Ullock reported back to the R4 REOC.

2.2.2 Issues
N/A
  2.3 Logistics Section
    N/A

  2.4 Finance Section
    No information available at this time.
  2.5 Other Command Staff
    2.5.1 Safety Officer
N/A

2.6 Liaison Officer
N/A

2.7 Information Officer


2.7.1 Public Information Officer
N/A

2.7.2 Community Involvement Coordinator
N/A
3. Participating Entities
  3.1 Unified Command
N/A

3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Norfolk Southern (PRP)
Sumter County EMA
Sumter County Sheriff Department
ADEM
US EPA
4. Personnel On Site
 
  • Norfolk Southern (PRP) (4+)
  • Contractors to Norfolk Southern (>15)
  • Sumter County EMA (1+)
  • Sumter County Sheriff Department (1+)
  • ADEM (2)
  • US EPA (1)


5. Definition of Terms
  N/A

6. Additional sources of information
  6.1 Internet location of additional information/report
N/A

6.2 Reporting Schedule
N/A

7. Situational Reference Materials
  N/A