Illinois Goes After Canadian National for Ethanol Train Derailment

The spilled ethanol is suspected as the cause of one of the largest fish kill events in Illinois history.

On June 19, 2009, a 114 car Canadian National train was traveling east from Freeport to Chicago when 14 tank cars, each containing 30,000 gallons of a mixture of 95–97 percent ethanol and 3–5 percent gasoline, derailed. The incident occurred sometime between about 8:35 pm and 8:50 pm, at the Mulford Road Crossing (mile post 80) in the southeast section of Rockford and Perryville.

Twelve of the derailed cars caught on fire, and the Illinois EPA said the majority of these cars' contents, about 360,000 gallons, were consumed in the blaze.

The two other derailed tanker cars that did not burn were breached and released their contents into the environment. An estimated quantity of 55,000 to 75,000 gallons of ethanol was released to the surrounding soils and into a nearby creek that is a tributary to the Kishwaukee River, said the state EPA.

The response involved at least 26 fire departments. While some of the fire was extinguished by water, local fire officials determined that the best course of action was to let the ethanol burn to minimize its impact on the nearby creek.

The intense fire caused the death of one motorist and sent nine others to hospital. About 600 homes in the surrounding half mile area were evacuated out of a concern for potential vapor releases, explosions and fire.

Dead fish on Illinois' Rock River. June 22, 2009 (Photo by W.J. Manon)

The kill is believed to have started on Father's Day weekend two miles north of Grand Detour and ended nearly 50 miles downstream near Prophetstown.

IDNR fisheries biologists spent the next several days on the river counting, measuring and sorting affected fish into species.

The investigation yielded a preliminary estimate of over 72,000 fish killed with an associated value of over $272,000. Biologists estimate nearly 37,000 game fish were killed, including catfish, smallmouth bass and walleye. They estimated that over 34,000 commercial fish, including buffalo and carp, also were killed.

The IDNR considers these estimates to be "very conservative," saying that extremely high temperatures contributed to the rapid decomposition of the fish, and flooding conditions along parts of the Rock River made it difficult to get a more accurate count.

The Illinois EPA has requested the Illinois Attorney General to require that Canadian National conduct sampling of dead fish to conclusively determine whether or not the fish kill was attributable to the release of ethanol. The railroad should also prepare and submit an aquatic restocking plan for the Rock River and the Kishwaukee River, says the state agency.

As part of the requested remedy, the state agency wants the railroad to implement a sampling plan for the soils and groundwater in the area where the derailment and fire took place, as well as along the path traveled by the liquid ethanol from the derailed tank cars to the creek that leads to the Kishwaukee River.

Canadian National also should submit all sampling results to the Illinois EPA, and perform necessary cleanups, the agency said.

In addition, said the state agency, Canadian National should conduct a well survey of community water supply and private wells in the area, arrange for sampling of these wells and, if needed, provide an alternative source of drinking water.

Finally, the Illinois EPA wants the railroad company to remedy any environmental damage and perform all necessary repairs to property damaged by the derailment.

Copyright Environment News Service, ENS, 2009. All rights reserved.