(The following story by Connie Baggett appeared on the Mobile Register website on May 31.)
CASTLEBERRY, Ala. — Hazardous materials crews continued their cleanup Wednesday in the aftermath of a train derailment that spilled 36,000 gallons of molten phenol and 15,000 gallons of acetone Tuesday near an artesian spring and a creek, authorities said.
Conecuh County Emergency Management Director Heather Walton said workers by noon had removed all cars except two leaking phenol cars.
A car that had been leaking acetone was among those removed.
Heavy equipment contained the chemicals, she said, and no contaminants reached Panther Creek or the spring, she said.
About 200 people who live and work within a half-mile of the derailment were evacuated just after noon Tuesday. Castleberry has a population of about 650.
Authorities ordered Warehouser Trus Joist, Seaman Lumber Co. and Guyoung Tech to shut down and send their employees home. Those workers were allowed to return Wednesday, and the plants resumed operations.
Displaced residents were still waiting to be told that the cleanup was finished and they could return to their homes. Walton said work crews were unable to tell her exactly when they would finish.
Red Cross workers distributed meals at Conecuh County Junior High School and offered shelter at the Brewton Motor Inn.
Two cleanup workers were taken to local hospitals Tuesday night after coming in contact with phenol, Walton said. Both were treated for burns and released, and one returned to work a short time later, she said.
According to records supplied to Walton by rail transport company CSX, the train had some 30 cars, and roughly half of the cars overturned or left the tracks. Walton said the records did not indicate exactly how many cars the train had or how many derailed.
Calls to CSX headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla., were not returned Wednesday.
Walton said U.S. 31 was re-opened, but Conecuh County 6 in Castleberry and all other county roads about a half-mile east of town remained closed.
Acetone, a solvent, is commonly used in products ranging from nail polish to paint thinners. In an enclosed space, where fumes can concentrate, acetone vapors can cause dizziness and other neurological problems. Phenol is highly toxic in some situations but is also fairly common in a number of household products, ranging from cleaners to medicines.
Both chemicals are combustible.