Overturned Train Car At Chambers Bay Leaks Another 100 Gallons Of Sodium Hydroxide; Ecology Confirms Spill Has Been Cleaned

Another 100 gallons of sodium hydroxide spilled onto the upland side of the railroad track at Chambers Creek Properties Tuesday.

It came as crews were . As workers tried to stabilize the car, it turned over.

The amount the spilled today was almost twice the amount that spilled during Saturday's derailment.

The state Department of Ecology says the spill has been cleaned up.

The agency released this information on its website:

Test results are expected later today to confirm the effectiveness of a cleanup of an additional spill stemming from this weekend’s train derailment near Chambers Bay Golf Course in Pierce County.

The new spill of sodium hydroxide happened when contractors for BNSF were working on one of the overturned rail cars that had been removed from the beach near the golf course. As it was being stabilized on the upland side of the railroad tracks, it rolled over and released an estimated 100 gallons to the access road adjacent to the upland side of the rail bed.

The tank car – which hadn’t leaked in the train derailment – had most of its contents pumped off before being moved. But some of the sodium hydroxide remained inside because it had solidified due to the cold weather.

BNSF’s contractors cleaned up the chemical solution and excavated the spill area. Samples have been collected to ensure the cleanup is complete.

The cleanup of the beach, where an initial 50 gallons of sodium hydroxide leaked in the Saturday night derailment, continued yesterday. Environmental agencies approved efforts to neutralize the sodium hydroxide by applying citric acid to the beach.

Samples are being collected to make sure the neutralization work was successful.