(The Southern Illinoisan posted the following story by Christi Mathis on its website on Febraury 10.)
TAMAROA — Smoke filled the air as numerous railroad cars lay side by side in a long row, perpendicular to the track they were traveling along just days ago. Approximately 1,000 residents of the Tamaroa area remained barred from their homes Monday while the cleanup of hazardous materials continued.
The cause of the accident that left 21 Canadian National Railroad cars derailed was still a mystery. It’s also unknown when people will be allowed to return to what has become a virtual ghost town.
Conflicting stories emerged as to what was happening Monday with the tanker cars filled with hydrochloric acid, vinyl chloride, formaldehyde and methanol. Peter Marshall, vice- president of the Gulf Division of Canadian National insisted that “no more cars have been leaking.”
However, Tamaroa Mayor Bill Place was on the scene as cleanup was underway and said he noticed more leaks as the cars were being moved. Du Quoin Emergency Services Disaster Agency Coordinator Chuck Genesio said eight rail cars were damaged, with five methanol cars burning and two hydrochloric acid cars leaking from ruptures.
The most dangerous situation involved a car with vinyl chloride, he said. The substance is used in the making of vinyl products and can be fatal if high levels are inhaled. This car has a hole in the top but is not leaking, Genesio said.
Hazardous materials cleanup crews determined that the situation was volatile and another rail car was brought in and a hookup made so the chemical could be transferred from one car to the other to be shipped out. Connecting the two cars was an involved process and the actual transfer that began Monday evening was expected to take 10 hours or more.
Marshall downplayed the seriousness of the incident, saying “there never was a serious release in terms of chemicals. It’s really just a matter of playing pickup sticks with some rail cars.”
He emphasized that ensuring the safety of workers and the town of 780 is top priority and that the cleanup effort is going very well. He said the smoke is the result of the hydrochloric acid on the ground surrounding the site mixing with the air and the lime being put on to neutralize it.
Genesio, ESDA Operations Officer David Searby, Place, and Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Chamness all agreed with Marshall on one thing.
“The cleanup is going well,” Place said. “They’re doing a terrific job.”
The impact on the town also is believed to not be as significant as first feared, officials said. Rumors of dead dogs, pets and livestock are untrue, and the sheriff’s department has been escorting people back home long enough to get their pets or to feed livestock.
Sheriff Keith Kellerman said his department had already helped about 50 people with such issues and will continue to assist as long as needed. He said they are also watching to assure there is no vandalism.
Genesio and Searby said soil and air monitoring have found no contamination beyond the immediate area of the accident. All involved stress that there is no water contamination, because the village gets its water from Rend Lake via Du Quoin and the lines are intact.
Although St. Johns purchases its water from Tamaroa, the village receives its water through Tamaroa lines before the water reaches Tamaroa.
“There have been no breaches, no disruption of water services,” Place said.
Officials said they hope to get the accident site stabilized and cleaned up so that at least the perimeter of the evacuation zone can be reduced sometime today. A news conference is set for 10 a.m. today to give the latest updates. People may also check the Du Quoin ESDA Web site or call the emergency number at (618) 542-3285, ext. 0.
“The good news on all of this is the railroad company will be picking up the tab on this,” Genesio said.
The costs of the cleanup, repairs, salaries for dozens of personnel working the disaster, and the costs for reimbursing the Red Cross and displaced residents is expected to climb into the millions of dollars, officials said.