(The following story by Rebecca Neal appeared on the Indianapolis Star website on January 9.)
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — CSX and government officials will address public concerts Friday stemming from the weekend Far-Westside train derailment.
The town hall meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Wayne Township Fire Department headquarters, 700 N. High School Road, classroom E. Officials will be on hand from CSX, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Wayne Township Fire and Marion County Emergency Management.
For more information, call Debbi Fletcher of the emergency department at (317) 327-7501.
Environmental officials now think fewer chemicals spilled during Sunday’s Far-Westside train derailment.
IDEM now estimates that about 1,900 gallons of diesel fuel spilled, down from 2,500 gallons as previously thought, said spokeswoman Amy Hartsock. She also said the quantity of spilled soybean oil is now about 27,000 gallons, significantly less than the estimate of 69,700 gallons. In addition, about 21,000 gallons of lubricating oil spilled, down from the department’s estimate of 25,000 gallons, she said.
The Marion County Health Department believes about a dozen homes in the area surrounding the crash at Girls School Road have well water, which is being tested as a precaution for contaminants. Spokesman John Althardt said they think there are no more than 50 wells in the area, and employees are still working to contact residents in about 100 homes.
More than 30 rail cars derailed when a train bound from Buffalo, N.Y., slammed into runaway cars that had broken loose from the Avon rail yards at about 3 a.m. Sunday. Two CSX employees were injured.