(The following article was posted on Washington, D.C. television station WJLA’s website on August 7.)
WASHINGTON — Sodium hydroxide, a chemical that can irritate your eyes and lungs and can react violently if mixed with other liquids, was leaking from a freight train in Southeast Washington.
D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department spokesman Alan Etter says there was a small leak of sodium hydroxide in the CSX freight yard near 13th and M streets, Southeast. The leak was closed by 6 p.m. and roads in the area were being reopened.
The Southeast-Southwest Freeway, between Pennsylvania Avenue and Interstate 295, was closed for a brief period. Hazardous materials crews were on the scene, but Etter stressed that it was a fairly minor incident.
CSX says the train was stopped just before a tunnel at Virginia Avenue. The train had 135 cars – 76 loaded, the rest empty.