(The Associated Press distributed the following article on February 4.)
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Less than a month after a train derailment left military bombs scattered along the tracks, state homeland security officials say they have improved notification about rail emergencies.
State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart, who also is state’s adviser to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, said Tuesday that the new procedure will finalized Friday and go into effect next week.
The Jan. 23 derailment concerned officials because they weren’t notified until several hours after 13 cars, including two carrying military bombs, derailed in a switching yard.
Stewart, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and Police Chief Jon Zumalt did not learn of the derailment until hours after the 8:20 p.m. accident. It was at least four hours before CSX Railway notified anyone about the hazardous materials on board.
The derailment “brought to light some things that needed to be changed, and those changes are being made,” Stewart said.
The notification agreement requires CSX to notify local emergency officials “as soon as they identify any problem,” Stewart said. Exactly what “any problem” is remains to be worked out. Stewart said it could include anything from hazardous materials to derailment of a passenger train.
Military officials said the public was never in danger. The bombs were in protective containers and were not shipped ready-to-explode.
The agreement is being worked out in cooperation with Homeland Security and the Department of Defense.
CSX spokeswoman Jane Covington said the railway, SLED and other agencies have been working cooperatively on an agreement. “We are working toward having something in place in about a week.”