Work continues to remove the derailed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City freight train

Train derailment in Maine

This photo provided by the Maine Forest Service shows several locomotives and cars burning after a freight train derailed, Saturday, April 15, in Sandwich Academy Grant Township, near Rockwood, Maine. Three workers were treated and released from hospital, and Canadian Pacific Railway will lead track cleanup and repair, officials said. (Maine Forest Service via AP)

This photo provided by the Maine Forest Service shows several locomotives and cars burning after a freight train derailed, Saturday, April 15, in Sandwich Academy Grant Township, near Rockwood, Maine. Three workers were treated and released from hospital, and Canadian Pacific Railway will lead track cleanup and repair, officials said. (Maine Forest Service via AP)

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Land Use Planning Commission announced that work continues at the site of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City freight train derailment at Sandwich Academy Grant Township in Somerset County. Removal of oil-contaminated soil from the site began late last week and continued through the weekend.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Land Use Planning Commission announced that work continues at the site of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City freight train derailment at Sandwich Academy Grant Township in Somerset County.

Removal of oil-contaminated soil from the site began late last week and continued through the weekend. To concentrate on strengthening erosion control and pollutant containment measures ahead of heavy rains expected on Sunday, April 30 and Monday, May 1, removal operations were suspended on Sunday of soils

As expected, the area was muddy due to the heavy rain, and after assessing numerous locations, it was determined that the water still contained a significant amount of silt. Personnel were working to remove free product from the upstream area of ​​the railroad tracks in the vicinity of a locomotive to the culvert. Cleanup personnel were also patrolling the stream for emulsified oil/fuel.

Additional erosion controls such as hay bale check dams and silt fences were strategically installed near the railroad tracks. Erosion controls were also installed near the adjacent wetland. A preliminary plan was announced to install more erosion controls in strategic locations. Additional diesel was removed from a locomotive during the scrapping process by a Hi-Rail Vacuum truck under the direction of DEP emergency response personnel. Work begins on the third and last locomotive.

The replacement of the temporary culverts installed under the railroad tracks with a permanent water crossing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10. The CPKC coordinates the installation with DEP Emergency Response, DEP Technical Services and LUPC.

Beginning the week of May 7, LUPC will replace DEP as the lead agency for long-term recovery plans and actions. DEP will continue to manage and approve actions to remediate the contamination while LUPC coordinates and communicates with state agencies involved in the overall cleanup and restoration effort. Updates and ongoing recovery of the CPKC derailment cleanup will be posted on the LUPC website.

On April 15, a CPKC freight train derailed due to rail wear in Sandwich Academy Grant Township in Somerset County. The aftermath of the derailment prompted a difficult DEP-supervised cleanup to remove debris and minimize environmental damage caused by spilled diesel, hydraulic fluid and engine oil. The Moose River, a tributary of Little Brassua Lake, was and continues to be affected by the derailment. Efforts to achieve a successful outcome are led by the CPKC, with oversight from the LUPC. More information on the LUPC website.