(The following story by Kimm R. Montone appeared on the Scranton Times-Tribune website on October 12.)
SCRANTON, Pa. — While local officials claim a lack of evidence has stalled an investigation into an ammonia-like odor that sickened 34 people Monday, a federal agency plans to launch its own probe into the incident.
A Federal Railroad Administration spokesman confirmed Thursday that the agency will inquire into whether a passing railroad car was the source of the smell that struck a group of cheerleaders and their parents at a North Scranton football field Monday evening.
“We are looking into the matter to ascertain if a leak could have occurred or if it was a highway vehicle,” FRA spokesman Warren Flatau said. “We’re still waiting to get information on the event.”
Additional details may be available as soon as today, Mr. Flatau said.
Thirty-two cheerleaders, ages 9 to 13, and two adults were hospitalized for difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and other respiratory ailments after encountering the fumes.
A railroad tanker hauling anhydrous ammonia passed through the area about an hour before the complaints, but the Virginia-based Norfolk Southern railroad has previously denied allegations the fumes originated from its train.
“It’s the first I heard of it … We are obviously going to cooperate with the FRA,” Norfolk Southern spokesman Rudy Husband said of the federal investigation. “I’ll stand by the statement I made Tuesday and Wednesday. Our inspections of the train did not produce evidence that the source of the problem came from the train.”
Company officials said the tanker cars were inspected several times without traces of a leak or malfunction.
Mr. Husband also said, during a meeting with a several parents Wednesday, that the tanker cars do not vent fumes.
Meanwhile, the president of the North Scranton Vikings football league hopes the administration will provide some answers.
“We’re not getting anywhere now, and I’m glad some other agency is looking into this,” said David Maconeghy, president of the North Scranton Vikings football league.