Saturday, March 21, 2015

ANOTHER HAZ MAT TRAIN DERAILMENT: SEVERAL TANK CARS LEAK METHANOL AFTER VALLEY MILLS, TEXAS TRAIN DERAILMENT





MARCH 21, 2015

VALLEY MILLS, TEXAS

UPDATE:
 

RESIDENTS ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME AFTER BNSF TRAIN HAULING METHANOL DERAILS

Several Bosque County residents were evacuated Saturday evening after a BNSF train carrying a hazardous chemical derailed. 
The people who lived in the four evacuated homes were allowed to return home hours after the derailment.
The train derailed just after 5 p.m. Saturday, along highway 6 about a mile or so outside of Valley mills. 
No one was injured in the derailment however 11 train cars overturned while the engine and the caboose remained upright. 
According to DSP Spokesman Trooper D.L. Wilson five of those train cars were carrying a hazardous chemical called Methanol.  
Bosque County Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Jeske said crews immediately evacuated a one-thousand foot radius around the train which included just four homes. 
"We're just at a holding stage monitoring for environmental impacts,” says Jeske. “We'll be out here as long as we need to remedy the situation and make sure and monitor any damage to the environment and things like that.” 
Officials didn't specify how much of the chemical leaked but say they're no longer worried about its danger to the public. 
Emergency responders say BNSF Railway hazmat crews were on their way to the scene as of 8:30 p.m. Saturday night to takeover the cleanup process and the investigation.







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About a dozen cars, several of which had been carrying methanol, have overturned in a train derailment north of Valley Mills, TX. People in the surrounding area have been evacuated by a hazmat team which is dealing with the chemical leak at the scene.

Five of the derailed cars were carrying methanol, Department of Public Safety spokesman Trooper D.L. Wilson said, reported AP.  Two of the methanol-hauling tanks have started leaking. 

No injuries were reported as a result of the incident but as a precaution, Wilson confirmed, ten homes in the area were evacuated. 

Bosque County Emergency Management are still on the major train derailment about a mile north of the Valley Mills city limits after multiple train cars overturned and started leaking chemicals. 

“VMVFD unit and multiple agency are work a MAJOR HAZMAT EMERGENCY just north of the city limits,” the city’s fire department said on its Facebook page. 

CBS Texas reports that seven of the derailed cars were flatbeds carrying drill pipes in addition to the five tankers containing methanol. Overall the train was made up of 40 cars.

Hazmat teams are monitoring air and water conditions at the scene, saying their biggest concern is the environment, now that everyone downwind have been evacuated, reported Kristianna Gross of News Channel 25 in Waco. 

3 of the 11 cars that overturned are tankers carrying unknown substance. Hazmat crews just arrived. pic.twitter.com/w2NTPHVfxR
— Kristianna Gross (@KXXV_Kristianna) March 21, 2015 

The cause of the derailment remains unclear at present, but heavy rainfall in the area may have been a factor. The fire department urged residents to stay clear of State Highway 6 and FM 217. 

So far no word on any injuries. I was told cause of the derailment is still unknown at this time. pic.twitter.com/evrEZQJyKm
— Kristianna Gross (@KXXV_Kristianna) March 21, 2015
Source: http://rt.com