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  • How is waste leaving the derailment site tracked?

    EPA on-scene coordinators are assigned to track liquid–and solid–waste trucks entering and leaving the derailment site. They log every truck, oversee the loading and covering of waste, truck washing and weighing, and the proper placement of placards. Responders take pictures throughout the process. All trucks go to approved and regulated…

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  • CFAT Impacts on EPCRA and RMP

    The Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) impose comprehensive federal security regulations for high-risk chemical facilities. Do the CFATS alter the requirements that apply to a facility covered under both CFATS and either the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) or the Clean Air Act section…

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  • EPCRA Reporting Mechanisms for Protecting Sensitive Business Information

    Does EPCRA provide any mechanisms for facilities that must submit Tier II inventory information to protect sensitive business information? Trade secret and confidential location information (CLI) are two separate confidentiality provisions under EPCRA. Trade secret claims made under EPCRA Sections 303, 311, 312, or 313 allow facilities to claim the…

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  • What happens after the track work is completed?

    The track work has been the highest priority to remove most contamination as early as possible. This, plus preventing the spread of contamination by capturing water from the site and constructing a bypass of Sulphur Run around the site will continue into June. While track work and water management continue…

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  • What is defined as a structure (home or place of business)?

    While generally defined as a building, a structure under the structural cleaning program will include only those habitable spaces where indoor occupancy is frequent and regularly occurring on a daily or near-daily basis. Examples of residential structures include primary residences and living spaces, and examples of commercial structures include offices…

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  • Why is cleaning of homes and places of businesses happening?

    Norfolk Southern, with EPA oversight, is providing indoor cleaning to eligible occupants in response to concerns about the impact of the derailment and cleanup work on homes and places of businesses. The cleaning is to address potential dust that may have been generated as part of the train derailment and…

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  • What does the on-site wastewater treatment process on site entail?

    EPA has approved a workplan to allow Norfolk Southern to treat hazardous wastewater on-site, removing vinyl chloride and other contaminants to dispose of the treated wastewater off-site as a non-hazardous waste. Currently, the train derailment site generates nearly one million gallons of wastewater per week from the collection of stormwater…

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  • Where is the treated wastewater going?

    The wastewater treatment system removes derailment contaminants using several steps, including sedimentation and filtration. The treated wastewater is then tested to verify vinyl chloride is below the drinking water standard. Once treated, water is sent to facilities certified to accept non-hazardous wastewater and that are regulated by federal and state…

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  • Are there health risks to driving through Taggart Street?

    There are no anticipated health risks along Taggart Street associated with project activities. As work proceeds, to ensure worker and community safety, the Unified Command will continue to evaluate site conditions for health and safety considerations. While traffic will be able to proceed through the work areas along Taggart Street…

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  • How much waste was removed as part of the cleanup efforts?

    In late October, EPA announced the completion of major derailment site excavation. Remaining contaminated soil and debris were removed for off-site treatment or disposal. Contact water continues to be treated in an on-site wastewater treatment system prior to removal for off-site disposal. As of November 13, over 174,000 tons of…

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  • What work still needs to be done at the derailment site?

    Although contaminated soil has been excavated and removed from the derailment site, some additional work remains. Soil sampling continues to check all areas where cleanup operations took place. Stream assessments continue, and culvert clean out has started. Groundwater and drinking water sampling also continues. Expect these investigations and possible additional…

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  • Are the trucks leaving the derailment site spreading contamination?

    Each truck leaving the derailment site that is carrying contaminated waste is checked to ensure all material is safely secured. Also, all trucks go through a washing process before departing the site. The washing process ensures the vehicles’ wheels and undercarriage are free of dirt and mud. Street sweepers are…

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  • Are landfills covered under Title III of SARA since they are covered by RCRA?

    Yes, landfills are subject to certain Title III requirements. Subtitle A of Title III is intended to identify facilities which present a potential hazard for a chemical emergency and to provide a process for local emergency planning committees to engage with such facilities in determining the significance of the release…

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  • Are mobile boosters eligible for the transportation exemption?

    An oil company owns many wells on an oil field. Each well is on its own plot of land. These plots are not adjacent or contiguous and, therefore, each well is its own facility. When operating these wells, it is sometimes necessary to inject air or gas into the well…

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  • Does this mean my home or place of business is contaminated?

    No. However, indoor cleaning is being offered to address potential dust emissions that may have been generated as part of the train derailment and cleanup work. This service is being offered as an additional service to interested members of the community.

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