The site is SW of San Antonio near Macdona, Bexar County, Texas. Spilled or released products include 60 tons of chlorine, 10,000 gallons of diesel, 1000 gallons of lubricant oil, and a still to be determined amount of ammonium nitrate solution. The weather remains sunny, hot and humid with afternoon rain showers. Wind is from the E at 5 miles per hour. There is a 30% chance of rainfall throughout the night with a 20% chance of rain predicted for tomorrow.
Chlorine offload into frac tanks continues. Tanker loads of sodium hypochlorite are leaving the site to be processed by Oxy.
Union Pacific (UP) reports that the chlorine level in the tank was 3.5 inches at approximately 0900, and that by approximately 1345 no liquid chlorine remained in the tank car.
UP removed an 8'x 15' section of the outer hull of the tank in addition to the 6' x 10' section removed yesterday to further increase solar heating.
UP reported that between 1630 and 1645, four air jet pumps were set at a higher vacuum rate to increase the vacuum in the tank. This increased vacuum will continue for approximately 12 hours to remove any residual chlorine vapor.
UP reports that the remaining railroad tracks will be laid tomorrow once the chlorine tank car is moved out of the way.
Site salvage operations continue.
TCEQ and START continue to monitor site activities and evaluate site environmental recovery activities.
Continuous air monitoring by START and CTEH remains in place.
TCEQ is continuing coordination of removal of contaminated material.
Five residences remain evacuated. Two of those are locked and cannot be entered by clearance teams. The occupants reportedly remain hospitalized from chlorine exposure.
UP reports that a worker was injured in the transfer of caustic solution to one of the polyvinyl tanks. He was apparently deconned on-site and transported to a local hospital for observation. We are awaiting a report of his condition and the particulars of the incident.
The CTEH data package has not been delivered, but discussions with their people confirm that it is in progress and will come ASAP to FOSC Harris.
Air sparging into the tank continues using jet pumps.
UP plans to rinse the tank with a caustic solution after 12 hours of air sparging on the tank.
Preparating exit strategy for state and federal resources.
Site meeting tomorrow with UC to discuss resident return-to-home issues, including clearance of the least two homes and traffic control through what will essentially be a construction zone.
Chlorine car appears empty.
Contractor injury from caustic solution.
Return-to-home issues for residents and site workers.
Federal and state resource demobe.
CTEH data package.
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