U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
New Augusta Train Derailment - Removal Polrep
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV
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Subject:
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POLREP #4
Response Transitions to O&M/Continued Restoration
New Augusta Train Derailment
New Augusta, MS
Latitude: 31.2055720 Longitude: -89.0592740
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To:
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Ernie Shirley, MDEQ
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From:
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Leo Francendese, On-Scene Coordinator
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Date:
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2/25/2014
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Reporting Period:
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2/08 thru 2/23/2014
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1. Introduction
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1.1 Background
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Site Number: |
Z4XW |
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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: |
OPA |
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Response Type: |
Emergency |
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Response Lead: |
PRP |
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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: |
1/31/2014 |
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Start Date: |
1/31/2014 |
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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.: |
1072598 |
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State Notification: |
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FPN#: |
E14428 |
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Reimbursable Account #: |
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1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency: The On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) has entered into Unified Command with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Perry County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director and Canadian National Railway (CN). CN has been issued a verbal Notice of Federal Interest and has also been notified that a Clean Water Act (CWA) discharge has occurred which will warrant a CWA 311(c) Administrative Order.
1.1.2 Site Description
A train derailment along US Highway (Hwy) 98 in New Augusta, Mississippi. Twenty (20) rail cars carrying materials manifested as paper rolls, fuel oil, methanol, urea fertilizer, and an unplacarded material identified as environment sensitive petroleum product derailed. Thirteen (13) of the rail cars that derailed were carrying fuel oil (manifest designation). During the derailment, some of the fuel oil cars, one methanol rail car, and the material identified as environment sensitive petroleum product were damaged and released their contents.
1.1.2.1 Location
US Hwy 98, approximately 0.5 mile west of the intersection US Hwy 98 and Ms Hwy 29 in New Augusta, Mississippi.
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
The methanol release represents a threat of fire or explosion and warranted the evacuation of nearby residents.
Up to an estimated 50,000 gallons of oil were discharged into navigable waters of the United States beginning at the drainage ditch between US Hwy 98 and the rail line. The 20 railcars that are derailed contain an approximate total volume of 360,000 gallons of crude oil as identified by the manifest, which represents an additional substantial threat of discharge to navigable waters of the US. The drainage ditch flows to the Leaf River. The approximate distance from the discharge to the Leaf River is 1/2 mile.
It is estimated that approximately 8,000 gallons of the environment sensitive petroleum product was identified as discharged to the creek adjacent to the railway on 2/2/2014.
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2. Current Activities
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2.1 Operations Section
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2.1.1 Narrative
At approximately 0800 hours on January 31, 2014, a Canadian National Freight Train derailed in New Augusta, Perry County, MS. A total of twenty (20) tanker railcars derailed. Up to an estimated 50,000 gallons of fuel oil was discharged as a result of the derailment. The one (1) methanol rail car was reported leaking in a separate area from the crude oil. The fuel oil was discharged to a drainage ditch between the rail line and US Hwy 98. The drainage ditch drains to the Leaf River which is approximately 1/2 mile downstream. OSCs Francendese, Garrard, and Franco are on scene to oversee and direct response actions. Shortly after the derailment, local Emergency responders implemented a ½ mile evacuation zone surrounding the derailment and closed a section of US Hwy 98. The Red Cross opened an evacuation shelter to accommodate the evacuees. Eight (8) individuals remained at shelters during the evening of January 31, 2014. The shelter was closed on February 1, 2013.
2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
January 31st
- Earthen berms were constructed in the drainage ditch between US Highway (Hwy) 98 and the rail line to stop the migration of oil downstream.
- Responders plugged box culverts along US Hwy 98 which drain into effected areas to reroute runoff from precipitation. Responders temporarily stopped the leak from the methanol rail car.
- Earthen berms were constructed to contain the discharged crude oil located within the drainage ditch between US Hwy 98 and the rail line.
- Responders mobilized additional resources to address the derailed tank cars. Re-railing and wrecking activities began and continued through the night.
- US Hwy 98 eastbound was reopened and reconfigured to allow for east and west bound traffic.
February 1st
- During the morning hours of February 1st, all of the rail cars were moved and staged away from the rail line to allow for rail restoration activities. Rail restoration activities were completed and rail traffic resumed at 13:30.
- Evacuated residents along the southern side of US Hwy 98 were allowed to return to their homes on the morning of February 1st.
- Transfers from the methanol rail car began at approximately 10:30 and were completed at 22:45. The methanol was transferred into tanker trucks and transported to the final destination.
- Earthen berms were constructed and reinforced around oil-impacted areas. Reinforcing of berms was completed in anticipation of a predicted rain event. In anticipation of rain, standing water in the eastern end of the drainage ditch was pumped to increase freeboard.
- Solidification of spilled oil began in the impacted areas between US Hwy 98 and the rail line.
- Air quality monitoring was performed by Consetoga-Rover & Associates, contractor for CN, and United States Coast Guard (USCG) Gulf Strike Team (GST) in support of the EPA OSC. All air monitoring results indicated there have been no elevated readings of monitoring parameters above background.
February 2nd
- Evacuees from the northside of the US Hwy 98 began returning home this morning.
- MDEQ and USCG GST personnel accompanied the escort team. Air monitoring was conducted in homes prior to entry.
- The methanol car has been deconned and is prepared for scrap. Contents of the Urea rail cars have been transferred to frac tanks and the rail cars are being prepared for decontamination.
- The heating coils of the oil tank cars were prepared on five tank cars and are being heated for product transfer into tanker trucks for transportation to final destination.
- The heating coils on the rosin tank were prepped for heating in order to transfer to trucks.
- Solidification of discharged oil continues.
- Air quality monitoring is continuing to be performed by Conastego-Rover & Associates and USCG GST personnel. All results indicated there have been no elevated readings of monitoring parameters above background.
- An area approximately 300 yards long containing approximately 10,000 gallons of environmentally sensitive petroleum product has been discovered in the northside ditch. A small beaver dam prevented further migration of the discharge. In addition, the ditch has been bermed to prevent further downstream migration of environmentally sensitive petroleum product. The material is being recovered by vacuum trucks.
- MDEQ is coordinating with MDOT to prepare for potential impact of forecasted rainfall on Hwy. 98. Sand was placed on/in culverts as a precautionary measure to contain released materials within derailment area.
Estimates of material spilled:
(as of 02/02/2014)
Fuel Oil* - 50,350 gallons
Urea Fertilizer - 17,200 gallons
Environment Sensitive Petroleum Product - 10,000 gallons
Methanol - 100 gallons
*See Section 2.2.2 (Issues) regarding designation of "fuel oil" and "environment sensitive petroleum product"
February 3rd thru 7th
- The response continued to be managed under Unified Command consisting of CN, DEQ, EPA and Perry County EMA.
- Daily progress pertaining to response operations during this
reporting period can be found in the IAPs located in the documents
section of this website. The following is a summary of major
operational milestones as of February 7th.
- All impacted railcars carrying either crude oil (formerly
referred to as fuel oil) or petroleum distillate have been transferred and offloaded to
approved locations. A detailed summary can be found at the end of IAP
5. The railcars have been deconned and await metal scrapping operations.
- Offsite disposal of crude oil impacted soils commenced as of the 7th in accordance with the overall site waste management plan also found in the documents section of this webpage.
- Containment and recovery of the environmental
sensitive petroleum distillate continues in the unnamed ditch adjacent
to the railway. A significant rain event was effectively managed during the course of this reporting period. Approximately 0.5 inches fell on the project while a far more substantial amount of 3 to 4 inches fell just to the NW in Hattiesburg. Improvements such as aggressively vacuuming impacted ditch water, instituting use of oleophilic fabric and increasing freeboard in downstream containment were executed to both speed up recovery and prepare for large rain events.
- USCG Marine Safety Laboratory submitted analysis of the previously identified fuel oils. This report can be found in the documents section of the webpage.
- USCG GST personnel demobed on Friday the 7th.
- USEPA support OSC's demobed during this reporting period as well as START contractor support.
- EPA OSC IC demobed on the 7th.
- EPA OSC IC continues to coordinate with DEQ and has tasked them with oversite and FOSCr duties pertaining to remaining onsite operational functions such as disposal, stream recovery and containment management, decon and demolition area recovery and containment.
- RP will continue to report in the form of Daily Status Reports (DSRs)
Estimates of material spilled:
(as of 02/07/2014)
Fuel Oil (crude oil)* - 50,350 gallons
Urea Fertilizer - 17,200 gallons
Environment Sensitive Petroleum Product (petroleum distillate) - 8,000 gallons
Methanol - 100 gallons
*See Section 2.2.2 (Issues) regarding designation of "fuel oil" and "environment sensitive petroleum product"
February 8th thru 25th
The following are highlighted items that occurred during this reporting period. More detailed coverage of the events during this operational period can be found in both the Unified Command Daily Reports and the MDEQ Sitreps. Those documents can be found under the documents section of this webpage.
- No reportable accidents occurred during this reporting period. The response has successfully maintained a "zero" accident safety record.
- The site experienced two significant rainfall events requiring the discharge of ponded sitewaters. The Unified Command decision and data evaluation can be found in the documents section of this webpage.
- Demolition and scrapping of railcars was completed
- Recovery of area used to conduct decontamination, demolition and scrapping continues.
- Containment and recovery of petroleum distillate from the the adjacent ditch continues. It is estimated that approximately 7000 gallons have been recovered.
- Disposal of wastestreams in accordance with the Waste Management Plan continues.
- The Operations and Maintenance (OM) Phase began on February 21st. CN will submit weekly updates in accordance with this plan. The plan can be found in the documents section of this webapge.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
CN (Canadian National Railway)
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2.2 Planning Section
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2.2.1 Next Steps
The EPA OSC IC is in coordination with DEQ and expects to continue tasking them under a PRFA to provide oversite and direction under the FOSCr.
The EPA OSC IC will conduct episodic visits as part of the oversite strategy while the RP will provide weekly status reports which will be posted on this webpage.
2.2.2 Issues
The oil contained in the tanker cars was manifested as Combustible Liquids Not Otherwise Specified (N.O.S.) (Fuel Oil) Combustible Liquid // Packing Group (PG) III. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) information provided to the OSC describes the material as heavy crude oil and #6 Fuel Oil. The material originated in Saskatchewan, Canada.
A sample of the oil has been analyzed by the United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Laboratory for finger print analysis. This report is available in the documents section. The OSC is coordinating with the FRA who is in consult with PHMSA and DOT concerning proper manifesting and identification.
Rail car ECUX 371058 was manifested as environmental sensitive petroleum products, and per the MSDS contains petroleum distillates and is a combustible liquid. This railcar was unplacarded. OSC is in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration concerning this issue.
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2.3 Logistics Section
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2.4 Finance Section
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No information available at this time.
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2.5 Other Command Staff
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2.5.1 Safety Officer
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3. Participating Entities
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3.1 Unified Command
Perry County EMA
EPA
MDEQ
CN - Canadian National Railway
3.2 Cooperating Agencies
Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT)
Mississippi Highway Patrol
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
3.3 Assisting Agencies
United States Coast Guard Gulf Strike Team (USCG GST)
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4. Personnel On Site
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EPA OSC - 1
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5. Definition of Terms
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MDEQ - Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
MEMA - Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
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6. Additional sources of information
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7. Situational Reference Materials
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