(The following story by Jessica Farrish appeared on the Register-Herald website on November 4.)
BECKLEY, W.Va. — Clean-up of diesel fuel that spilled near Stephen’s Creek when a Norfolk Southern train derailed Sunday in Surveyor is complete. However, company officials say the effects of an unspecified amount of coal that spilled into the creek remain unknown.
Eighteen coal cars and three locomotives derailed just outside the entrance to Lake Stephens about 11:15 a.m.
“Our (Norfolk Southern) environmental department and contractors are awaiting the effects of the coal in Stephen’s Creek,” Norfolk Southern spokeswoman Susan Bland reported late Monday afternoon. “The diesel fuel that spilled has been captured and had not affected the creek.”
Instead of trickling into the creek, early reports from authorities on the scene said most of the spilled diesel ran into a large ditch that was created during the crash by the first engine.
Bland added Norfolk Southern representatives have notified the Department of Environmental Protection of the derailment but were unaware Monday if the agency had launched an investigation. DEP officials were unavailable for comment Monday afternoon.
Norfolk Southern crews were expected to remove the three locomotives Monday night. The 18 coal cars had been cleared from the tracks.
“We’ll be picking up the coal and the cars in the coming days,” Bland stated. “The track and bridge are expected to be repaired and back in service on Wednesday.”
Railway officials said the cause of the derailment remained under investigation.
No major injuries were reported in the derailment.