Pa. Book Aims to Prevent Railroad Track Disasters

Sept. 22--CONFLUENCE -- In 1987, rescuers had to evacuate the entire borough of Confluence when 27 tank railcars derailed in the heart of town. Two decades later, a similar scene unfolded: a CSX freight train derailed in February 2007 on the outskirts of the same town, leaving behind twisted railcars, scattered coal and ripped tracks.

Both incidents happened before thousands of gallons of crude oil and ethanol from fracking ventures in North Dakota were routinely hauled through the county by rail.

Responders aren't waiting for another derailment to prepare, according to training officer Joel Landis with the Somerset County Hazmat Team. Landis helped land federal funding to organize a project to help responders prepare for railroad emergencies.

"We know these trains are coming through daily," Landis said.

The Somerset County department of emergency services secured a Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grant funding through the state's Emergency Management Agen-cy. The result of the 10-month collaboration is a book that details tracks to help responders quickly -- and uniformly -- identify street access points.

The book, distributed to eight volunteer fire companies, covers the CSX Keystone section of railroad that runs from Confluence to Fairhope in Somerset County. The line runs from Cumberland, Maryland, west to Connellsville, Fayette County, along a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line.

The $8,000 grant, which included some in-kind matching at the county level, also included a training component, Landis said.

"It will better prepare them mentally and strategically for a response to any type of emergency on that section of the railroad," he said. "Right now, they might have their own internal maps. This way, each one will have the same one, and when they go to help each other, they can all work together better."

The grant was specifically used for the railroad tracks that have an increased rail transportation of Bakken shale formation crude oil and ethanol shipments from North Dakota's fracking boom. According to a map by the Fractracker Alliance and based on information in a PennEnvironment report, there are more than 14,000 residents within a half mile of active freight lines in Somerset County.

The map project included physically plotting the tracks to verify that the books are accurate and to better familiarize the responders with access points.

The final stage was the distribution of the books on Saturday to the responders: Berlin Volunteer Fire Company, Confluence Volunteer Fire Company, Garrett Volunteer Fire Company, Meyersdale Volunteer Fire Company, New Centerville & Rural Volunteer Fire Company, Rockwood Volunteer Fire Company and Somerset County Hazmat Team, with oversight by the Somerset County Department of Emergency Services.

Ron Hostetler, assistant chief at Confluence Volunteer Fire Co., said crews walked and drove miles of rail lines to verify the information.

"In the past, when an emergency call came from the railroad, we would get instructions like, 'just west of a certain mile marker,' which didn't help us," he said. "Unless there was a cross street, it was difficult."

Aside from concern over oil and gas components, crews often respond to brush fires along the tracks or rescues on cycling trails, which often run parallel to train tracks, Hostetler said.

"Now we can open the book and say here's our closest access," he said. "We know where we're going exactly when the railroad gives us something."

The books also provide an aerial view of the same terrain opposite each page on a section of railroad, Hostetler said.

That helps to quickly identify evacuation areas, which also are clearly marked, and provides lists of numbers, such as companies that can provide foam to soak hazardous materials.

"We can immediately see what need to do," he said. "Now we have a resource manual where we can flip it open. The railroad companies usually can tell us the fire department district. They've been good about that. Now we will be able to narrow it down."

Kecia Bal is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow her on Twitter at @KeciaBKay

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