chlorine gas train derailment and cleanup

7/28/2019 Chlorine Gas Train Derailment and Cleanup

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Graniteville Derailment

Overview of the IncidentResponse Issues

Lessons LearnedQuestions


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Norfolk Southern Graniteville Derailment

Video Compiled by USEPA


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7/81Photo: SCDHEC


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9/81Photo: SCDHEC


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Initial Incident TimelineJ anuary 6, 2005

2:39 AM Derailment3:50 AM Notification to DHEC Spill Hotline by Railroad

4:05 AM DHEC ERT Notified/Dispatched

4:12 AM National Response Center Report #746298

4:24 AM DHEC Media Relations Dispatched

4:35 AM USEPA Responding

5:30 AM Aiken County EOC Activated

6:42 AM Reverse 911 Call to Community8:00 AM State EOC Activated

11:00 AM FEMA ROC Activated

12:00 PM Governors Executive Order Declared anEmergency


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Train2 locomotives

42 Railcars

Total 2553 ft

Total 3521 tons

14 Cars Derailed

3 Chlorine

1 Sodium Hydroxide

2 Kaolin3 Particle Board

3 Coiled Steel

2 Empty


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Contents ConcernsChlorine

Released from Railcar #9

Railcar Capacity 17,400 gallons (~90 tons)

Approximately 60%-70% of contents releasedSodium Hydroxide

Kaolin

Cresol

Diesel fuel


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Chlorine2.47 Vapor Density

-29.3F Boiling Point

10 ppm IDLH

Odor Threshold 0.06-3.5 ppm (varies by source)

11.48eV Ionization Potential450-500:1 Expansion Ratio (Liquid-Gas)

Contact escaping compressed liquid can cause

frostbite and/or chemical burns to the eyes and skinStrong Oxidizer

Extremely Water Soluble

Non-Persistent


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Chlorine Concentration Effects0.2-3.5 ppm Odor detection (some tolerance develops)

1-3 ppm Mild mucous membrane irritation that can be tolerated for up to 1 hour

3 ppm Extremely irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract

5 ppmSevere irritation of eyes, nose, and respiratory tract; intolerable after a

few minutes

14-21 ppm

Immediate irritation of the throat; Dangerous if exposed for 30-60

minutes

15 ppm Irritation of the throat

30 ppmModerate irritation of the upper respiratory tract; Immediate chest pain,

vomiting, dyspnea, cough

35-50 ppm Lethal in 60-90 minutes

40-60 ppmToxic pneumonitis and acute lung injury; dangerous for even short

periods

430 ppm Lethal over 30 minutes

1,000 ppm Fatal within a few minutes

Source: MEDITEXT - Medical Management


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Particle Board

Coiled Steel Cover

Coiled Steel

Coiled Steel Cover

Coiled Steel Cover

Empty

Chlorine

Empty

Photo: SCDHEC

Coiled Steel


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Coiled Steel

Cover

Particle Board

Particle Board

Photo: SCDHEC


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Kaolin

Photo: SCDHEC


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Kaolin

Kaolin

Photo: SCDHEC


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Empty

Chlorine Chlorine

Sodium Hydroxide

Empty Empty

Photo: SCDHEC


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Coiled Steel

Photo: SCDHEC


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Empty

Chlorine

Empty

Chlorine

Photo: SCDHEC


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Photo: SCDHEC


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EmptyParticle Board Particle Board

Sodium

Hydroxide

Chlorine

ChlorineEmpty

Photo: SCDHEC


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Evacuation

1 Mile RadiusApprox 5400 Residents

Curfew Between 1 and2 Mile Radius

Lasted up to 14 days


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Human Health Issues Decontamination

Transport and Treatment

Rapid Epidemiological Assessment

Follow-Up Investigations

Community Health Assessment


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Photo: The Augusta Chronicle


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Facility (n=263) No. %

Aiken Regional Medical Center 109 (41)

Other SC hospitals 8 (3)

Augusta, GA hospitals 146 (56)

Patients Treated atEmergency Departments

within 24 Hours

h d f


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Method of transport (n=150) No. %

Privately owned vehicle 94 (63)

Emergency medical services 51 (34)Other (police, company

vehicle) 5 (3)

Method of Transport toMedical Facility First 24

Hours


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Exposure Categories

Category (n=292) No. %

1 = No known exposure

2 = Mild exposure3 = Moderate exposure

4 = Severe exposure5 = Extreme exposure

27

12067

3642

9

4123

1214

Low

High


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Outcome CategoriesCategory (n=435) No. %

1 = Deceased2 = Ventilator/ICU/3+ nights

3 = Hospitalized 3+ nights4 = Hospitalized 1-2 nights5 = ED repeat visits

6 = ED w/ significant Sx7 = ED w/ moderate Sx8 = ED w/o Sx

9 = Physician office visit(s)

915

272969

6712161

37

23

6716

152814

9

Severe

NotSevere


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Not Severe


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Follow-up Investigations Secondary Mailed Survey

DHEC Graniteville Train Wreck Registry

Graniteville Community Health

Assessments


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Graniteville Community HealthAssessments

Performed at local areachurches and a clinic

Included:

assent/consent vital signs

medical/exposure history

physical exam

collection of exhaledbreath condensates

pulmonary function

testing

psycho-social morbidityscreens

clinical and psychologicalconsultation

subsequentmethacholine challengetest at Aiken RegionalHospital in medically

eligible


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Graniteville Community HealthAssessments

260 people received a free healthassessment

>60 received methacholine challengetesting

Have detected patients with RADS,PTSD, and other illnesses that haverequired clinical follow-up


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Animal Issues

PetsFeeding

Retrieval

Wildlife

Pet Retrieval


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Photo by V. Reece

Owners called in on three dedicated phone lines, filled out information, and forindoor animals, delivered keys for teams to retrieve pets.

Pet Retrieval


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Retrieval teams reached owners by phone andarranged pick-up at the staging area.

Animals were unloaded and held at the staging

area until owners arrived to reclaim. Animalswere given a brief exam by local veterinarians.

Total of several hundred animals were retrieved

and returned to owners.

More than 30 animals were either retrieved deador died or were euthanized at local veterinary

hospitals.

More than 30 animals were treated forsymptoms consistent with chlorine exposure.

Photo by V. Reece


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Reported Impact to Pets

Dogs: 7 died, 10 sick, 2 missing Cats: 10 died, 1 missing

Fish: died in 2 aquariums and 1stream/pond

Rabbit: 1 sick

Rooster: 1 died

Frog: 1 died


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Photo: SCDHEC


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Photos: SCDHEC


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Photos: SCDHEC


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Unified CommandCommand Post

Honda Cars of Aiken

The Old K-Mart Parking Lot

Command Post Vehicles

Leased the Antique Mall

Brought together reps from various agencies to

coordinate the incident and prioritize activitiesDHEC EQC maintained 24-hour presence for 10days and daytime presence for the duration


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Photo: Westinghouse Savannah River Company


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Clean-Up and RemediationEmergency Phase Plan included:

Recovery of tank car inventories

Removal of diesel affected soils and asphalt

Removal of kaolin clay Removal of chlorine impacted soils

Removal and disposal of debris and cross ties Removal and disposal of dead animals

Breached Chlorine Car


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Patched Car


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a c ed Ca


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Chemical Transfers

J an 9 Temporary patchJ an 10-12 Liquidtransfers

J an 12 Permanentpatch on leaking car

J an 13 Re-occupationbegins

J an 19 Product transfercomplete


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WastesCrossties and rails

Locomotives and railcars

Approx 120 tons Kaolin

Approx 260 tons steel coils

3000 gallons diesel

16 loads diesel contaminated soil


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Water SamplingBaseline data for

Horse Creekroutinely collectedon 1/5/05

Total residualchlorine increased

pH loweredHorse Creekneared baseline by

1/10/05


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Gradual reoccupation ofevacuation areasallowed

Transitioned areas over

multiple daysControl points allowedresidents into areas

Roadblocks keptresidents out of areasstill evacuated

Re-Occupation


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Re-Occupation Fliers handed out at town

meetings, at traffic controlpoints, by communityliaisons, and building

samplers Instructed residents on some

precautions to take when

returning home Coordination of multiple

agencies

Re-Occupation-


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p

Building SamplingMission:

Sample buildings toensure no chlorine orhydrochloric acid or vaporpresent.

Composition:

1 Contractor

1 Government

Building CodesInspectors


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Re-Occupation-Community Outreach Liaisons

Mission:

Talk to residents andexplain what hashappened, homeinspection procedures,answer questions, and

provide assistance.

Composition:

DHEC EQC Regional

staffPhoto: SCDHEC


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Impacts9 Deaths

569 Hospital ER Visits72 Hospitalized

Norfolk-Southern estimated $40M in claims

Avondale Mills

Reported $52.5M clean-up costs in FY2005

6 of 7 mills in Graniteville to close (1650 workers)Cities around the country prohibiting trainscarrying hazmat in their jurisdiction


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NTSB ReportRecommendations:

Require RR to install device to convey positionof the switch along main lines in non-signaledareas

Require trains to operate at speeds where theycan be stopped in advance of misaligned switch

Position tank cars to rear of train and reducingspeed in populated areas

Provide escape masks to train workers


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Lessons Learned Summary

Need info immediatelyDont rush in without PPE

Warning to public must be timely

Shelter-in-place vs Evacuation

Establish Unified Command early

Unified Command needs a commonworkspace


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Lessons Learned Summary

Start logistics earlyConstant reevaluation of incident

Activities must be prioritized andcoordinated among agencies (IAP)

Develop communications plan early

Regional cooperation among states

Consider non-traditional responders


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Lessons Learned SummaryMake responders visible to community

Control access to incident scene

Law Enforcement (Traffic/Crowd

Control, Curfew Enforcement, InsuranceFraud)

PPE must be availableBrief news media early and often

Involvement of elected officials


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Lessons Learned SummaryGIS played a major role

DHSs Pre-positioned EquipmentProgram

Rejection of Presidential DisasterDeclaration

Consider animal issuesConsider reoccupation needs of public

Develop demobilization plan/exit strategy


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Questions

chlorine gas train derailment and cleanup

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