Close call on Philly oil train derailment fuels calls for safety

Katie Colaneri

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Katie Colaneri is a reporter for StateImpact Pennsylvania and WHYY in Philadelphia covering energy and the environment. Before joining StateImpact, Katie worked as an investigative and enterprise reporter at WBGO in Newark, New Jersey. She covered some of New Jersey's biggest stories including the devastation and aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, as well as the day-to-day triumphs and struggles to revitalize state's largest city. A native of New Jersey with roots in South Central Pennsylvania, Katie holds a bachelor's degree from Wellesley College.

January 22, 2014 | 12:35 PM

It could be a few more days before crews finish clearing derailed train cars, including five crude oil tankers, from a bridge over the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.
As of Tuesday evening, crews were working continuously in snowfall to transfer oil from the derailed cars to empty tank cars nearby on the same tracks, according to the rail company CSX.
“CSX’s priority is on safety and the environmentally responsible transfer operation,” spokeswoman Melanie Cost said in an e-mailed update.
The 101-car train was traveling from Chicago to a refinery in South Philadelphia when seven of the cars slid off the tracks on the Schuylkill Arsenal Bridge around 12:30 a.m. Monday.
It was one of several trains that bring tens of thousands of barrels of crude oil from North Dakota to Philadelphia Energy Solutions every week. After a string of more serious rail accidents involving crude in other parts of the country, the incident has amplified local concerns about the safety of these trains.

The cause of the derailment is still being investigated, but Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says for now, the city is safe.
“For us at least, derailments are fairly uncommon, but I’m sure there’s always something that we can take a look at or focus on,” Nutter said. “You can never be too cautious or too careful, so we’ll see what comes out of this investigation.”
However, there are others who say the city dodged a major bullet.
“We came within a hair’s breadth of a calamity in Philadelphia,” said Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Hanger. He has joined the chorus of environmental groups and local lawmakers calling for more information as shipments of crude oil continue to roll through populous areas in Southeast Pennsylvania.
The seven cars that derailed in Philadelphia on Monday remained intact, but as of Tuesday evening, six of the cars, including five oil tankers and one car carrying sand, were still leaning across the bridge.
Hanger says Philadelphia was lucky compared to other communities where such derailments have resulted in spills and explosions. A derailment in Lac-Megantic, Quebec in July resulted in the deaths of 47 people.
“People’s lives are at risk. That’s the bottom line. People’s lives are at risk,” said Hanger, who wants Governor Tom Corbett to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the problem.
Federal regulators met with energy companies and railroads last week to discuss voluntary changes to step up safety like reducing speeds and re-routing trains around high-risk areas. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Pennsylvania are calling for hearings.
“I’ve had concerns about the state of our bridges and other vital infrastructure for a while now,” said Philadelphia City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson in a statement. Johnson wants to hold a hearing with CSX to talk about rail safety.
The House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee is considering holding a hearing on oil-by-rail safety in Delaware County in March.