NTSB Gathering Information on CSX Crude Oil Train Derailment in West Virginia

2/17/2015
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WASHINGTON – Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board’s office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials are in communication with the Federal Railroad Administration and CSX emergency response crews since the derailment that occurred in West Virginia yesterday and will continue to monitor the situation. The FRA and CSX are providing NTSB investigators with detailed damage reports and photographs of the derailed tank cars. The investigators will compare the data with tank car design specifications and similar derailments including Casselton, North Dakota, on December 30, 2013, and Lynchburg, Virginia, on April 30, 2014.

On February 16, 2015 at 1:30 PM EST, approximately 28 tank cars in a 109-tank car CSX crude oil unit train derailed near Mt. Carbon, West Virginia, 35 miles southeast of Charleston, West Virginia. Some of the derailed tank cars released an unknown amount of crude oil onto the ground, which immediately ignited. Some of the crude oil likely entered the river. Downstream water treatment intakes on the Kanawha River were closed as a precaution. A one half mile evacuation zone was established around the derailment. As of Tuesday morning, emergency crews are allowing the fire to burn itself out. At least one injury is reported. The cause of the derailment is unknown at this time.

“This accident is another reminder of the need to improve the safety of transporting hazardous materials by rail,” said NTSB Acting Chairman Christopher A. Hart. “That is why this issue is included on our Most Wanted List. If we identify any new safety concerns as a result of this derailment, the Board will act expeditiously to issue new safety recommendations.”

Additional information on rail tank car safety and the Most Wanted List can be found at: http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/mwl/Pages/mwl5_2015.aspx

Contact: NTSB Public Affairs
490 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20594
Keith Holloway
(202) 314-6100
keith.holloway@ntsb.gov

2 p.m. Tuesday, February 17 Update: CSX Responds to West Virginia Derailment

CSX teams continue to work with first responders, local officials, the State of West Virginia, and the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Railroad Administration on the assessment and preliminary recovery from a derailment that occurred near Mount Carbon, West Virginia, on Monday, February 16. Overnight, CSX personnel and agencies continued their assessment of the derailment scene to verify the number of rail cars involved and the extent of the potential environmental impact. CSX estimates that approximately 25 tank cars derailed and 20 cars were involved in subsequent fires; the fires around the rail cars will be allowed to burn out. When safe to do so, CSX and its experts will begin transferring oil from the damaged cars to other tanks and those tanks subsequently removed from the site. Initial assessments have confirmed that several of the cars appear to be ruptured or leaking from valves.
No rail cars entered the Kanawha River in this incident.

CSX teams continue working to deploy environmental protective and monitoring measures on land, air and in the Kanawha River as well as a creek near the company’s tracks. The company also is in contact with public officials and investigative agencies to address their needs.

Approximately 100-125 residents of homes near the derailment site remain evacuated at this time. CSX is working with the Red Cross and other relief organizations to address residents’ needs, taking into account winter storm conditions. The company opened a Community Outreach Center Tuesday, February 17, at 8 a.m.; the center will remain open until every day 8 p.m. EST or later if needed. CSX has secured a number of hotel rooms for displaced residents and is assisting them in relocating from evacuation centers to the hotels. Information about the available hotels and other services is available by calling 1-877-TellCSX (1-877-835-5279).

The train consisted of two locomotives and 109 rail cars (107 tank cars and two buffer cars). It was traveling from North Dakota to Yorktown, Va. All of the oil cars were the CPC 1232 models.
One person was treated for possible respiratory problems and released, but no other injuries were reported. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.

Additional updates will be provided as more information is available.

10:15 p.m., Monday, February 16, 2015: CSX Responds to West Virginia Derailment

CSX teams continue to work with first responders and federal, state and local officials on the derailment this afternoon of an oil train near Mount Carbon, West Virginia. This evening, CSX personnel and agencies are continuing their assessment to determine the number of cars derailed and resulting oil loss. The company is working to contain oil found in a creek that runs parallel to CSX tracks, and water utilities on the nearby Kanawha River are taking precautions. Fires around some of the cars will be allowed to burn out.

CSX teams also are working to deploy environmental protective and monitoring measures on land, air and in the Kanawha River. The company also is working with public officials and investigative agencies to address their needs.

CSX is working with the Red Cross and other relief organizations to address residents’ needs, taking into account winter storm conditions. The company will open a Community Outreach Center starting Tuesday, February 17, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, and CSX has secured a number of hotel rooms for displaced residents, who can obtain hotel addresses and other information by calling 1-877-TellCSX (1-877-835-5279).

The train consisted of two locomotives and 109 rail cars and was traveling from North Dakota to Yorktown, Va. All of the oil cars were the CPC 1232 models.

One person was being treated for possible respiratory problems, but no other injuries were reported. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.

Additional updates will be provided as more information is available.