(The following appeared on the Indianapolis Star website on February 13.)
Testing of wells near a Far-Westside train derailment shows no contamination from spilled chemicals, according to the Marion County Health Department.
“We were not able to pick up any impacted materials spilled during the derailment, which is what we expected,” said department spokesman John Althardt.
More than 30 cars derailed near Girls School Road on Jan. 6 when a train from Buffalo, N.Y., slammed into runaway cars that had broken loose from the Avon Big Four Yards.
Materials spilled during the crash included 22,000 gallons of lubricating oil, 30,000 gallons of soybean oil, 19,000 gallons of corn syrup, 650 gallons of diesel fuel and 7,000 to 10,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer, according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
The department will test wells again later this year as a precaution. To make sampling arrangements, call (317) 221-2266.