(The following report by Hank Silverberg appeared at www.wtop.com on September 8, 2010.)
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — A rail yard that houses tanker cars carrying hazardous materials is raising concerns among some Fredericksburg residents.
Residents of the Mayfield community in Fredericksburg say 20 to 30 tanker cars are often stored along the tracks in the rail yard until they can be moved. The rail yard is operated by CSX.
Charlotte Jones, who lives nearby, says her neighbors are concerned about leaks or even vandalism because there is no fence around the facility.
“CSX has a really good safety record, but BP had a good safety record, too and our concern is, we don’t want to take chances with our community and our kids,” Jones says.
There’s been increased scrutiny of tanker cars since a derailment in Graniteville, S.C., where a chlorine gas leak killed nine people and sent 250 people to the hospital five years ago.
There’s also growing concern in Virginia after two coal cars derailed in the Fredericksburg area in the last three months.
“If for example, chlorine gas was to be released from one of these cars, it would spread a cloud 14 miles long and four miles wide,” Jones says. That would engulf all of Fredricksburg and could come as far north as Aquia.
CSX won’t officially say what is in the cars, but many of them go to the nearby ethanol facility at the Bowman Center in adjoining Spotsylvania County.
Residents say the tanker cars are marked -as they are supposed to be under federal regulations – and the markers indicate various types of hazardous chemicals.
CSX spokesman Bob Sullivan says the rail yard is “secure” and the railroad complies with all federal and local regulations.
A public informational meeting will be held on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Salem Church Library on Salem Church Road in Fredericksburg.