B.C. derailment sparks water warning

[CHIMO]

B.C. derailment sparks water warning
Last Updated Sat, 06 Aug 2005 16:20:31 EDT
CBC News

A train has derailed just north of Vancouver, spilling toxic sodium hydroxide into the Cheakamus River.

The spill has killed and injured fish and prompted officials to warn people to stay away from the river near Squamish.

Many were empty lumber flat decks, but one of them spilled tens of thousands of litres of the corrosive liquid into the river.

Provincial environment officials have visited the site, and CN has sent a crew to begin repairing the rail line.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/08/06/bc_derail050806.html


Residents protest response to spill near Edmonton

Wabamun, Alta. — More than 100 angry protesters blocked a Canadian National railway crossing Friday to express their anger at what they called the company's poor response to a freight train derailment and oil spill on the lake where they live.

Cabin owner Don Goss said CN appeared to be more worried about getting trains running again than they were in cleaning up what some have described as an environmental disaster.

"There's an army of CN vehicles here with equipment to fix their track, and yet we're fending on our own here," he said.

"The trains are rolling and there's virtually nothing happening as far as cleanup. They're telling us there is, but we're not seeing it."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050805.waltaoil0805/BNStory/National/

Seems like we could use a good look at some things.

[HEyHEY]

1. On CBC this morning they said it may have killed a whole

Generation of SPring salmon as it's spawning season.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. DAMN! Should they even carry such toxic stuff on the rails?

[CHIMO]

3. Horrible Stuff

It's the same as draino type liquid. As well aquatic life doesn't need a large change in environment to kill them. Just imagine that the air we breathe suddenly became caustic.

In spite of this I doubt they they will be dealt as rigorously as CIBC was this week in the states.

[HereSince1628]

4. Wow! Now we've got a river of Draino!

What acid is safe to use to offset that?
How much of that acid (in kilos, please) is needed?

[CHIMO]

5. As

It is a strong base it could use a strong acid. If one was directly affected I would think that the best thing would be to add some acid and test and keep adding and testing until a neutral solution was obtained.

[HereSince1628]

8. I was wondering how much ReaLemon Canada was in need of

I was thinking like a Republican and trying to get ahead of Monday's commodity markets.

[CHIMO]

9. Good Question

I wouldn't get to puckered up for it though, as it might slide off the rails if one was too leveraged or not in a neutral position.

[nine23]

6. We drove up to Cheakamus this morning to have a look...

...and it's a very wierd, spooky scene indeed. The Cheakamus River has ALWAYS been an ultra-pristine, crystal clear glacial gem of a river, sometimes glowing deep aqua/green from glacier runoff...

NOW, it's still all of the above only with DEAD FISH on it's banks (unlike oil, the toxic substance is completely invisible). Very sad, and rather spooky. A dead river. Overnight. Like some sort of sci-fi movie where a cloud appeared and killed everything alive, but left everything intact.

I've known this river since I was a boy. Shit, I hope heads will roll over this.

[getmeouttahere]

7. What is it going to take to stop these things from happening...

I just don't understand...not using the rails...these companies or governments need to do more to ensure the safety of transport of this stuff, or stop using it!

[CHIMO]

10. An Update

Guess that CN didn't know what there cargo was.

Lake Wabamun residents warned not to use water
Last Updated Mon, 08 Aug 2005 21:00:56 EDT
CBC News

People around Alberta's Lake Wabamun are being told not to use or drink water from the lake or their well because a hazardous chemical may have been part of the material spilled last week after a train derailment.

Alberta Environment issued the warning Monday after experts raised concerns.

People are also being told not to use lake water for watering gardens or for showering because of the risk of exposure to the chemical, which is used to treat utility poles.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/08/08/alta-derailment-050808.html