According to Union Pacific Railroad, a train carrying coal derailed in Nebraska early Tuesday which sparked an emergency response. Early reports stated hazardous materials were spilled but later Union Pacific said “no hazmat was involved,” the incident is still being investigated and as of now the cause is still unknown. Another Union Pacific train derailed in California, on Monday, according to CBS which involved four cars. There were no injuries and no hazmat involved in this accident as well but it is also being investigated.
CBS reports:
Another Union Pacific train derailed in Riverbank, California, on Monday, according to CBS Sacramento. The derailment, involving four cars, happened around 3:45 a.m., Union Pacific officials said. There were no injuries and no hazmat involved. The incident is being investigated.
The news comes after a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, earlier this month, forcing hundreds of nearby residents to evacuate for several days. A total of 38 rail cars derailed, and another 12 cars were damaged by a fire. Hazardous materials were in 11 of the derailed cars.
Residents were evacuated so crews could release chemicals for a controlled burn. Substances including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene – all materials that are widely considered to be toxic – were on the derailed cars. These chemicals could damage humans and the environment.
Norfolk Southern said Monday that 15,000 pounds of soil and 1.1 million gallons of water have been removed from the area due to contamination. The railway did not specify which hazardous materials were found in the water and soil, but did say the materials will be transported to landfills and disposed of safely.
The increasing number of train derailments and other toxic disasters have piled pressure on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg who plans to visit East Palestine on Thursday, one day after Donald Trump.
