CHARLESTON, W.Va — The investigation of what occurred during last week’s CSX train derailment in Fayette County continued with the removal of most of the Bakken crude oil from the 27 tanker cars, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
The FRA said they have a crew of 10 investigators that have been recovering evidence, documenting, and taking pictures of the derailment site in Montgomery to determine the probable cause.
The tanker train was going 33 miles per hour on a track speed of 55 miles per hour. Robert Lauby, Chief Safety Officer of the FRA, said they can now close that door and look more into safety issues concerning that section of the track the train traveled on.
Lauby said they have inspected the portion of the track and have not found any previous cases that would lead to the determination of the crash, but are continuing to search in that area. He said there are risks of these types of transports all over the country.
“These significant types of accidents are not that common, but depending on where they happen, they can have significant consequences,” said Lauby, “This is one of our number one priorities – to look at the transportation of crude oil and to look at all the different ways we can help prevent these types of accidents.”
Sarah Feinberg, acting head of the FRA, said she believes the crude oil that was on the train would prompt a closer examination of the overall issue of oil transport by rail. Feinberg said the FRA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and their colleagues at pipe lines and hazardous materials have already started to take a good look so these types of accidents can be avoided in the future.
The FRA said there needs to be a shared responsibility between the train, the railroad, and industries including the energy industry.
“While the tank cars are really important, the way the train is operated is also important. A really clear understanding, documentation, and testing of the products and if it (the crude oil) is actually going into the train and into the tank car is important as well,” said Feinberg.
Overall, Feinberg said she was glad no one in the area was hurt. She said if the train crashed a half a mile down the tracks in either direction, there would have been a much more populated area that could have impacted even more residents.
The agencies involved in the ongoing response included the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Railroad Administration, CSX, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the West Virginia Department of Environmental, the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety and the National Guard.