(The Peoria Journal Star posted the following Associated Press article on its website on March 31.
TAMAROA, Ill. — Freight train operator Canadian National-Illinois Central has paid out more than $446,000 to residents and businesses forced to evacuate this southern Illinois town for several days in February.
As of March 20, the railroad operator paid $329,729.59 in claims by 1,136 area residents and $117,158.41 to 74 local businesses, spokesman Jack Burke said.
Burke said he did not yet have payout totals for compensation to government agencies.
A 21-car Canadian National-Illinois Central train carrying hazardous and flammable chemicals derailed while passing through the center of Tamaroa on Feb. 9. No one was inured.
The train was carrying methanol, vinyl chloride, hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde, each either flammable or potentially toxic. Some chemicals spilled from ruptured train cars, causing the evacuation of everyone in and around town. Those who lived closest to the wreck were out of their homes for almost a week.
Federal investigators were focusing on a joint in the railroad tracks as the possible cause of the derailment.
The emergency phase of the cleanup is complete, and local and state authorities have signed on to the company s long-term cleanup and monitoring plan.
Tamaroa is 65 miles southeast of St. Louis and has about 800 residents.