[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39017-39018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15495]
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NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
Investigative Hearing
On November 30, 2012, at 6:59 a.m. eastern standard time,
southbound Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) freight train
FC4230, consisting of 2 locomotives and 82 cars, derailed 7 cars near
milepost 13.7 on the Conrail Penn's Grove secondary track in Paulsboro,
New Jersey. The derailment occurred while the train crossed a movable
bridge over Mantua Creek, resulting in 4 tank cars leaving the bridge
and coming to rest partially submerged in Mantua Creek. As a result of
the derailment, the coupler on one tank car punctured another tank car,
releasing an estimated
[[Page 39018]]
180,000 pounds of liquid vinyl chloride into Mantua Creek; the vinyl
chloride vaporized and dispersed with the prevailing winds. Primarily
used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl chloride is a highly
flammable, colorless gas and a known carcinogen that may have an effect
on the nervous system, eyes, liver, and respiratory tract through
airborne exposure. The weather at the time was cloudy skies and calm
winds with a temperature of 34[deg]F.
The 911 communications center was notified of the release at 7:01
a.m., and the first responders to the accident were members of the
Paulsboro Fire and Police departments, assisted by hazardous materials
specialists from a nearby refinery and the Gloucester County hazardous
materials team. The first incident command was established about 50
yards from the bridge but was later moved a half mile away. Evacuation
orders were imposed by local authorities shortly after the release, but
subsequently were replaced with shelter-in-place recommendations. About
8 hours into the release, a unified command was established among the
United States Coast Guard, New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, Paulsboro Fire Department, and Conrail. On the morning of
the accident, 23 local residents were treated at a nearby hospital for
possible vinyl chloride exposure. The train conductor and numerous
emergency responders were also tested for vinyl chloride exposure.
The investigative hearing will discuss Conrail operations and the
emergency response to the hazardous materials release. Specific areas
being discussed include Conrail bridge operations, Conrail procedures,
incident command actions and emergency response decisions in the first
day, hazardous materials emergency response operations, roles of the
response teams, evacuations and communications, incident response
protocols, hazmat training, oversight of Paulsboro emergency
preparedness, roles of local, state and Federal agencies in emergency
hazmat response, and interaction between state and Federal agencies in
establishing a unified command. The goals of this hearing are to gather
additional factual information regarding the actions of the first
responders in Paulsboro, to explore the hierarchy of New Jersey State
and local emergency management, training, regulations and standards
applicable to emergency response personnel, and to examine the
oversight of the Paulsboro emergency operations.
Parties to the hearing include the Federal Railroad Administration,
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, United States
Coast Guard, Conrail, Borough of Paulsboro, State of New Jersey,
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and the United
Transportation Union.
At the start of the hearing, the public docket will be opened.
Included in the docket are photographs, interview transcripts, and
numerous other documents.
Order of Proceedings
1. Opening Statement by the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry
2. Introduction of the Board of Inquiry and Technical Panel
3. Introduction of the Parties to the Hearing
4. Introduction of Exhibits by Hearing Officer
5. Overview of the incident and the investigation by Investigator-In-
Charge
6. Calling of Witnesses by Hearing Officer and Examination of Witness
by Board of Inquiry, Technical Panel, and Parties
7. Closing Statement by the Chairman of the Board of Inquiry
The accident docket is DCA13MR002.
The Investigative Hearing will be held in the NTSB Board Room and
Conference Center, located at 429 L'Enfant Plaza E. SW., Washington,
DC, Tuesday, July 9, and Wednesday, July 10, 2013, beginning at 9:00
a.m. The public can view the hearing in person or by live webcast at
www.ntsb.gov. Webcast archives are generally available by the end of
the next day following the hearing, and webcasts are archived for a
period of 3 months from after the date of the event.
Individuals requesting specific accommodations should contact Ms.
Rochelle Hall at (202) 314-6305 or by email at [email protected]
by Friday, July 5, 2013.
NTSB Media Contact: Mr. Terry [email protected].
NTSB Investigative Hearing Officer: Mr. Matthew Nicholson_
[email protected].
Dated: June 24, 2013.
Candi R. Bing,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-15495 Filed 6-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7533-01-P