America
Maine USA - Fuel, engine oil, and hydraulic fluid from derailed train cars is saturating the soil
and leaking into Moose River, which connects to Little Brassua Lake, according to Tuesday's update from the Maine
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
According to Tuesday's update, fuel and oil from the derailed cars still at the scene are spilling into waterways, and
officials can see an oily sheen that's visible on the water.
The train was carrying drums of hazardous materials, pentamethylheptane and ethanol, but they were removed from the
site over the weekend.
The spilling at the site does not involve these hazardous materials, according to the DEP.
Biologists with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) visited the derailment site on Tuesday,
according to the DEP's release.
MDIFW Communications Director Mark Latti said the DEP's efforts to mitigate environmental harm reduced the potential
impacts on nearby wildlife.
"The evaluation revealed no immediate impacts to fish or wildlife in the area. The series of booms surrounding the
crash site, as well as another series of booms downstream at the mouth of the stream, appear to be working
effectively," Latti wrote in a statement.
CPKC spokesperson Doniele Carlson said in an email to News Center Maine, "Teams are using boom and absorbents to
contain and clean up the released diesel and protect the surrounding environment. There is no timeline for completion
of the site and environmental clean-up work."
The DEP said its focus will be to contain and clean up the spilled oil and remove wrecked rail cars.
According to the release, once that's finished, it will assess the environmental impacts, and remove the
oil-contaminated soil.
On Monday, the railway reopened the train tracks after officials made repairs and conducted safety
inspections.
CPKC has not provided any information as to when the tracks were last inspected before the derailment.
Sam Olsen.
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