Freight Train Derails, Spilling Fuel Into River
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WESTMINSTER, Vt. — A freight train derailed early Monday, sending a locomotive into the Connecticut River and dumping at least 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the water.
The track apparently had been undermined by water. There have been tremendous runoffs in the last week because of melting snow.
No injuries were reported.
The New England Central freight locomotive, half submerged in the river, leaked 2,000 to 2,200 gallons, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The agency did not know whether wildlife had been harmed.
Crews used floating booms to contain the fuel and absorbent towels to soak up the diesel.
Three locomotives were pulling a train of more than 80 cars. It appeared that at least one of the engines passed over an area that had been left unstable or even washed out.
People who get their water from the Connecticut River south of Westminster were being warned not to drink the water, officials said.
About 25 miles downstream, Vermont Yankee officials were monitoring water flowing into the nuclear power plant’s cooling system to ensure that it was not contaminated.
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