Residents seeking up-to-date information on follow-up activities related to the June 30 Norfolk Southern train derailment and spill that affected Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek can now log on to the Department of Environmental Protection’s Web site.
“A number of McKean and Cameron county residents have reported to us that the derailment has had a profound affect on their lives and that they would like to know more about ongoing activities,” DEP Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch said.

“We’ve issued several news releases regarding follow-up activities at the derailment site and established a public document repository at the Cameron County Conservation District Office to keep the public informed,” Burch said. “The Web site is one more tool for residents to stay current with all the accident-related activities.”

The Web information includes a brief history of the derailment, its environmental consequences and actions that Norfolk Southern will have to take to restore the health of the watershed. There also is a link to all DEP news releases, so when new information becomes available, residents will have immediate access.

To view the information, go to www.depweb.state.pa.us. On the left side of that homepage, click on “Northwest” or “Northcentral,” then “Community Involvement” and then “Norfolk Southern Train Derailment.”

On Aug. 14, DEP issued a notice of violation to Norfolk Southern. An NOV is a formal notice to the company that its actions violated numerous state environmental regulations. Under state law, the company could be subject to penalties of up to $35,000 per day, starting from the date of the original spill and continuing until the violations cease.

The NOV cites the railroad for the ongoing discharge of pollution and encroachments into commonwealth waters, the unpermitted disposal of wastes, and release of hazardous substances.

About 44,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide, also known as caustic soda or lye, spilled when 28 railroad cars derailed. Some of the sodium hydroxide entered Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek and wiped out aquatic life and fish from the accident site near the McKean County village of Gardeau to a point 7.5 miles downstream at the mouth of Fourmile Run near Emporium in Cameron County.

An unknown amount of sodium hydroxide also soaked into the ground in and around the derailment site, and this residual material must be addressed to ensure a complete recovery of Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek.

For more information on water quality, visit DEP’s Web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us , Keyword: “Water Quality.”