1 March 2007
No Environmental Damage from B.C. Derailment
Golden British Columbia - No significant environmental
damage occurred after five CP Rail cars carrying toxic chemicals went off the tracks near Golden, B.C., early Wednesday.
While some of the chemicals spilled, emergency crews managed to contain them and keep it from getting into nearby waterways in the
Kicking Horse Canyon.
Jim Doyle, mayor of nearby Golden, B.C., said no major pollution resulted.
The cars jumped the tracks at about 3 a.m. PT, about five kilometres east of the southeastern B.C. town nestled in the Canadian Rockies.
Ed Greenberg, a spokesman for CP, told CTV there was no environmental impact or public safety issues. "The clean-up is
continuing, but everything is returning to normal."
One of the cars was carrying hydrochloric acid, and some of that chemical had leaked from the tanker car. Two other cars were carrying
sodium hydroxide, but contrary to early reports, they had not leaked, Greenberg said.
"Initially, we thought the sodium hydroxide car was leaking," Greenberg told CTV.
"That is not the case. Sodium hydroxide is not leaking. However, there is a car involved in this incident that has hydrochloric
acid in it - hydrochloric acid is used in fertilizers, dyes, photography, and the textile and rubber industries. It has been determined
that that car has leaked some product onto the track."
In addition to the cars carrying chemical products, one was carrying lumber products and another was carrying railway ties.
"But really, the only impact, the only car that is our priority... is the one with hydrogen chloride," Greenberg said.
Hydrogen chloride, also known as HC1, is a highly corrosive, toxic gas that is slightly yellow at room temperature. It forms white
fumes on contact with humidity.
A Golden, B.C., school was closed for the day as a precaution, but will reopen Thursday.
While the rail line will be closed until Friday, Greenberg said CP has been able to divert traffic around the derailment, so
east-west train traffic has been able to keep moving.
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