CSX Transportation, Inc. Submits Voluntary Remediation Program Application

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) at the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) has accepted a Voluntary Remediation Program application submitted by CSX Transportation, Inc. to address environmental conditions at CSXT Mt. Carbon Derailment Site in Fayette County.

The site is located at 188 Gina Street (Lot 8 Diamond TR) in Mount Carbon and includes approximately 2.56 acres. On February 16, 2015, Train K08014 derailed 27 cars containing Bakken crude oil near milepost (MP) CA 424. Nineteen of the cars were involved in the ensuing fire, and 20 cars released contents in amounts ranging from 0.5 gallon to the entire capacity of the rail car. Contents were released to the track, rail bed, adjacent slopes, and the downgradient property. The site is bound to the north and east by the Kanawha River. Armstrong Creek is located immediately to the southeast of the site. The downgradient property was previously used as a private residence and has since been acquired by CSXT. The site is currently undeveloped and anticipated future use of the property is non-residential.

OER has negotiated a Voluntary Remediation Agreement (VRA) with the applicant. Under the VRA, the applicant will work with the WVDEP to identify human health and ecological risks associated with current and potential future uses of the site; establish applicable remediation standards; and ensure that standards are maintained at the site. Upon completion of the remediation, a final report will be submitted to OER for review and approval.

West Virginia’s Voluntary Remediation and Redevelopment Act encourages voluntary cleanups of contaminated sites, as well as redevelopment of abandoned and under-utilized properties, with an objective of counteracting the lack of development on sites with contamination or perceived contamination. By providing financial incentives to invest in brownfields, this approach protects communities and the environment while still promoting economic development in West Virginia. 

For more DEP news and information, go to www.dep.wv.gov. Also, be sure to connect with the agency on all social media platforms. Follow @DEPWV on Twitter and find us on YouTube by searching “Environment Matters.” For specific information about our REAP (Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan), West Virginia Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), West Virginia Watershed Improvement Branch, Youth Environmental Program and Human Resources initiatives, connect on Facebook.

Contact:

Jake Glance
(304) 926-0499 ext. 1335
Jacob.P.Glance@wv.gov