February 17, 2015

CSX teams continue to work with first responders, local officials, the State of West Virginia, and the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Railroad Administration on the assessment and preliminary recovery from a derailment that occurred near Mount Carbon, West Virginia, on Monday, February 16. Overnight, CSX personnel and agencies continued their assessment of the derailment scene to verify the number of rail cars involved and the extent of the potential environmental impact. CSX estimates that approximately 25 tank cars derailed and 20 cars were involved in subsequent fires; the fires around the rail cars will be allowed to burn out. When safe to do so, CSX and its experts will begin transferring oil from the damaged cars to other tanks and those tanks subsequently removed from the site. Initial assessments have confirmed that several of the cars appear to be ruptured or leaking from valves. 

No rail cars entered the Kanawha River in this incident.

CSX teams continue working to deploy environmental protective and monitoring measures on land, air and in the Kanawha River as well as a creek near the company’s tracks.  The company also is in contact with public officials and investigative agencies to address their needs.

Approximately 100-125 residents of homes near the derailment site remain evacuated at this time. CSX is working with the Red Cross and other relief organizations to address residents’ needs, taking into account winter storm conditions. The company opened a Community Outreach Center Tuesday, February 17, at 8 a.m.; the center will remain open until every day 8 p.m. EST or later if needed. CSX has secured a number of hotel rooms for displaced residents and is assisting them in relocating from evacuation centers to the hotels. Information about the available hotels and other services is available by calling 1-877-TellCSX (1-877-835-5279).

The train consisted of two locomotives and 109 rail cars (107 tank cars and two buffer cars). It  was traveling from North Dakota to Yorktown, Va.  All of the oil cars were the CPC 1232 models.

One person was treated for possible respiratory problems and released, but no other injuries were reported. The cause of the derailment is under investigation.

Additional updates will be provided as more information is available.