Rail wreck site wells tested for fertilizer, etc.

Indianapolis-Tests have found no fertilizer or other contamination in 33 private wells following a 35-car railroad derailment here on Jan. 6, according to health department and CSX announcements. Officials with both the county and the railroad said the well tests were conducted as a precautionary measure because of concerns expressed by nearby residents and the chance that some of thousands of gallons of lubricating oil, soybean oil, diesel fuel, and liquid fertilizer caused a problem flowing into a nearby stream or pond. “We were confident that we had secured all of the product (that had spilled), but felt it was prudent to do the check because of the number of active wells in the nearby community,” CSX spokesman Garrick Frances told Green Markets. He said CSX worked with the Marion County Health Dept., where spokesman John Althardt added, “Although we did not anticipate finding any water well contamination, we conducted the tests to reassure local residents as to the condition of their water and to establish a baseline for follow-testing that will take place later in the year.” He said samples were taken by the department and CSX and independently analyzed. The derailment occurred when 112 cars in the CSX yard were accidentally released and collided with a moving train. Frances said it took nearly a month to complete the cleanup, with the railcars being removed and 22,000 gallons of lubricating oil, 30,000 gallons of soybean oil, 19,000 gallons of corn syrup, 650 gallons of diesel fuel, and between 7,000 and 10,000 gallons of liquid fertilizer cleaned up or neutralized.