Site Narrative:
On February 3, 2005, two diesel locomotives and several automobile-carrier railcars were derailed east of Wellsville. The derailment caused the release of approximately 6,000 – 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel, 300 gallons of lubricating oil, and unknown quantities of motor oil and gasoline into the railbed ballast, soil, and drainage ditches north and south of the railroad tracks. BNSF estimated that about 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel entered Rock Creek, located 300 feet east of the derailment. Rock Creek flows south-southeast and enters Hillsdale Lake, approximately 2.5 miles downstream of the site.
BNSF notified KDHE of the spill (Spill Report 28571). KDHE’s Northeast District Office (NEDO) responded to the spill and provided KDHE oversight of response efforts. Response activities did not achieve spill “closure” since contamination in impacted media wasn’t remediated to levels below KDHE Tier 2 Risk-Based Standards (RSKs). NEDO referred the site to the KDHE/BER/Remedial Section to provide oversight for additional cleanup actions needed to address residual contamination. On July 7, 2009, BNSF applied to the Voluntary Cleanup and Property Redevelopment Program (VCPRP). Between 2005 and 2009, BNSF conducted additional response and cleanup activities without KDHE oversight. A document entitled “Response and Remediation Activities Report” was enclosed with the application. A Voluntary Agreement was executed by the Secretary on November 10, 2009.
KDHE approved the VCI ammeded workplan on November 16, 2011, fieldwork was conducted on May 8, 2012. An additional necessary sediment sample was collected October 2012, and indicated a low concentration of TPH-DRO in the sediment. KDHE requested surface water sampling be collected. May 22, 2013 KDHE and BNSF collected a surface water sample from the Creek. All results were non detect for the surface water sampling. BNSF requested a NFA on July 26, 2013. KDHE is awaiting documentation from the voluntary party and prapring the NFA. |