(The following story by Titan Barksdale appeared on the News & Observer website on January 7.)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hazardous-materials crews were called to clean up an ethanol leak Sunday from a railroad tank car at Norfolk Southern in Raleigh.
Robin Chapman, a spokesman for Norfolk Southern, said a small leak was located at the top of the tank car, but had been stopped by late Sunday afternoon. There was no damage or injuries reported, he said.
Ethanol is a flammable, colorless, mildly toxic chemical compound, best known as the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages.
Because of ethanol’s ease of production and because exposure to low amounts does negligible harm, it has widespread use as a solvent for substances intended for human contact or consumption, including scents, flavorings, colorings and medicines.
Ethanol also can be used in fuel.
The tank car was transporting the ethanol for a company that Chapman would not name.
The amount of leaked ethanol hasn’t been determined, Chapman said.
A report of an ethanol leak at 1500 Carson St. was called in at 1 p.m., said Andrew Waters, a dispatcher with Raleigh EMS.
By 3:30 p.m., the emergency responders had left Norfolk Southern. The responders included Raleigh police officers, fire units and EMS.
An employee at Norfolk Southern noticed the tank car appeared shiny when it stopped at the rail yard, Chapman said. The employee called the Raleigh Fire Department, which responded with hazardous-materials crews.
Chapman said the tank car is headed to Linwood, which is about 40 minutes south of Winston-Salem.