At approximately 2045 hours, on Friday, October 20, 2006, a train derailed off a railroad trestle in New Brighton, Pennsylvania. EPA received notification via the National Response System of the incident. EPA coordinated with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and determined that EPA should respond to the incident. EPA OSC Easton notified START of the incident and requested their assistance. At approximately 0215 hours on Saturday, October 21, 2006, OSC Easton and START mobilized to the Site.
EPA continued to coordinate with PADEP regarding the environmental cleanup of spilled ethanol.
On 10/26/2006, PADEP issued a Notice of Violation to Norfolk and Southern for discharging ethanol into the Beaver River.
All of the damaged cars have been removed from the railroad track and from the Beaver River, and the railroad track has re-opened. PADEP had collected several water samples from the Beaver River and from near intakes for the Midland Water Authority as well inside its water treatment plant. Preliminary samples showed evidence of ethanol in the Beaver River within 500 yards of the spill site. Samples near the water intakes showed no problems.
The cleanup of the spilled ethanol was completed by Norfolk and Southern with PADEP Water Quality Division providing the oversight.
EPA does not anticipate any future removal actions.
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