Train company excavating contaminated soil

Over 30 cars, including two filled with sodium hydroxide, overturned in the June 30 derailment.

Norfolk Southern has gotten the green light to excavate contaminated soil that continues to leach sodium hydroxide into Big Fill Hollow, near the border of Cameron, McKean and Potter counties

The railway has been granted a Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) permit to dig up the soil and dispose of it at a landfill in Elk County. It will likely be about an eight-week job, depending on the weather. "This work is designed to get to the root of ongoing contamination of the stream," said DEP Northwest Region Director Kelly Burch "This step also is necessary to ensure the full restoration of the affected waterways and wetlands."

Norfolk Southern will:

 temporarily divert 60 feet of the Big Fill Hollow watercourse;

 excavate and restore 2,500 square feet of the Big Fill floodway;

 build a temporary clean water ditch through the floodway, and

 construct groundwater collection devices within the floodway watercourse that are to be removed once the project is completed.

That work will be restricted to the actual derailment and spill location on the east side of the Norfolk Southern tracks near Gardeau in Norwich Township, McKean County.

Additional work, not requiring a DEP permit, will result in the removal of approximately 1,500 cubic yards of contaminated soils.

Burch pointed out that the permit does not authorize wetland disturbance. All disturbed areas must be restored to the original contours and replanted. DEP and Norfolk Southern continue to work on stream and wetland encroachment permitting issues on the west side of the railroad tracks.

The June 30 spill that followed a 31-car train derailment wiped out fish and aquatic life in Big Fill Run at the accident site and along with nearly an 11-mile segment of Sinnemahoning Portage Creek. It also affected fishery resources in the Driftwood Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek.

Impact of the spill was observed 30 miles downstream from the crash site. An unknown amount of the 42,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide, also known as lye, soaked into the ground. DEP said this residual material must be addressed and cleaned up to ensure a complete recovery of Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek, which is designated as an exceptional value and wild trout stream.

On Oct. 19, DEP announced $8.89 million in penalties against Norfolk Southern for violations of the Clean Streams Law and the Solid Waste Management Act and Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act. Norfolk Southern has appealed.

The railway also faces legally-binding milestones and objectives to ensure the company cleans up the ground contamination and fully restores the area to pre-spill conditions.