Rail Cars...What's In Them

Lee Coleman

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I came across an article in the Witchita Eagle that was very interesting as far as bringing to attention just what is in those rail cars that roll through our cities every day. Last week here in Kentucky we had two train accidents in two days with hazardous materials involved. According to the paper 30 rail cars a day come through the heart of Lexington carrying such toxins as chlorine and ammonia. A study done in 2005 by the U.S. Naval Laboratory said one ruptured rail car carrying chlorine could kill 100,000 people in 30 minutes. Just 30 minutes...I would hate to imagine if this had happened here last week.

"Since Sept. 11, 2001, trying to find out what chemicals are moving through communities has been more difficult. In fact, shortly after the terrorist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security suggested that railroads erase the symbols that tell emergency personnel what chemical hazmat rail cars are carrying. A national coalition of firefighters and other first responders protested until the idea was dropped.
"Secrecy makes accidents harder to respond to," said Sean Moulton, director of federal information at OMB-Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that advocates for more transparent government. "If they fax the manifest to the fire department after the accident, and they don't have the proper equipment. ... It's about having the information before the accident happens, that's the only way they'll have proper equipment and training."