Baltimore bridge disaster: NTSB chair says some hazmat containers were breached



There were hazaradous materials on board the ship that ran into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and some HAZMAT containers were breached, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said on Wednesday.

"He was able to identify 56 containers of hazardous materials," Homendy said of a NTSB senior HAZMAT investigator, adding, "that's 764 tons of hazardous materials, mostly corrosives, flammables" as well as "miscellaneous hazardous materials, class nine hazardous materials which," she said, "would include lithium ion batteries. Some of the HAZMAT containers were breached," she said. Homendy also said that "sheen" has been spotted on the waterway.

The ship collided with the bridge on Tuesday, causing it to collapse, leading to multiple deaths.

"We must ease the regulatory burdens of NEPA to get this critical bridge back up as soon as possible. And while we are at it, revise the permitting process for all infrastructure projects and improvements," GOP Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia said in a tweet.

President Joe Biden, who is currently seeking re-election, has said that it is his "intention" that the federal government will cover the full cost of rebuilding the bridge and that he expects the legislature to support his effort.

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Breaking: Precautionary closures implemented around White House for unknown item later cleared as 'non-hazardous'



Precautionary closures were implemented around the White House Sunday evening following discovery of an unknown item by Uniformed Division Officers, according to United States Secret Service Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi.

DC Fire and EMS were contacted to evaluate, Guglielmi also said in a Sunday evening tweet.

— (@)

In an update, Guglielmi said precautionary closures would be lifted "soon" as DC Fire had cleared the unknown item as non-hazardous.

Guglielmi thanked the Secret Service Uniformed Division as well as DC Fire and EMS and the DC Police Department for their "unwavering partnership."

— (@)

The discovery of the unknown, non-hazardous item in the White House area comes after explosives were detonated at multiple DC businesses within minutes Sunday morning, as TheBlaze reported.

This is a breaking story which will be updated as new details are confirmed.

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Train derails into Yellowstone River; bridge collapses; tanker cars leaking asphalt, sulfur



Multiple tanker cars carrying hazardous materials derailed and a bridge over the Yellowstone River collapsed Saturday morning in Stillwater County, Montana, authorities reported.

"There are several cars in the river," Montana Rail Link told TheBlaze in a statement, adding that several hazmat cars were included.

The train crew is safe and no injures were reported, according to the statement.

"The safety of our employees and the public remains our top priority. We are committed to addressing any potential impacts to the area as a result of this incident and working to understand the reasons behind the accident," Montana Rail Link also said.

"I'm monitoring the train derailment in Stillwater County, and the state is standing by to support as Montana Rail Link and county officials assess their needs," Gov. Greg Gianforte tweeted.

The train was traveling westbound at approximately 6:45 a.m. when a portion derailed while traversing the bridge.

The MRL tanker cars, originally thought to be leaking petroleum products, contained asphalt and a second unidentified substance described as "slow moving," YCSO shared, referencing the "most current information" shared by Stillwater County News.

The second substance was sulfur, KRTV reported.

The derailment and bridge collapse took place between Columbus and Reed Point near Twin Bridges Road, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reported.

The agency advised the public to avoid the water from Twin Bridges Road to Buffalo Mirage Fishing Access Site due to potential contaminants, adding that the Stillwater River was closed from White Bird FAS to the confluence with the Yellowstone River.

YCSO reported that water treatment plants, irrigation districts, and industrial companies were "taking appropriate precautions."

Officials from Montana's Disaster and Emergency Services and Yellowstone County's Emergency and General Services are asking residents to conserve water.

"Water treatment facilities in Laurel, Billings, and Lockwood, as well as the irrigation canal companies, have instituted emergency protective measures, including shutting down head gates, due to a potential hazmat spill," YCEGS shared on Facebook.

MRL personnel and first responders are onsite and the derailment is under investigation.

Montana Rail Link is a Class II regional railroad that operates over 900 route miles of track in Montana, according to its website.

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2 Norfolk Southern trains derail, spill diesel fuel and engine oil



Two Norfolk Southern trains derailed this weekend – one in Alabama and another in Pennsylvania. The train derailment in Alabama spilled diesel fuel and engine oil.

There were 11 cars of a Norfolk Southern train that flew off the tracks early Sunday morning in Jasper, Alabama. Some of the cars rolled over. The locomotive also rolled on its side and spilled diesel fuel and engine oil into the crash area.

There are no reports of a hazmat situation, and the train company said there was no danger to the public.

Two crew members of the train were injured and taken to a nearby hospital. Both have since been released.

Jasper Police released a statement that read, "According to Norfolk Southern, the train crew was briefly trapped in the engine room because the engine tilted over. There were no major injuries, but RPS was called to the scene to evaluate the crew and transported two crew members as a precaution."

"Per Norfolk Southern personnel, there were no hazardous materials involved in the derailment or released into the area," the press release stated. "Jasper Fire called all personnel in to assist the crew in getting out of the train and managing the scene, along with Jasper Police. Norfolk Southern and Walker County EMA are remaining on the scene to return the track to service."

Norfolk Southern crews worked through the night on the cleanup.

Norfolk Southern issued a statement on the latest derailment:

Last night, 11 cars and the lead locomotive derailed from a train traveling through Jasper, Alabama. There are no reports of a hazmat situation or danger to the public. Our two crew members were transported to the hospital and have since been released. During the derailment, the locomotive rolled onto its side and as a result spilled some diesel fuel and engine oil. Norfolk Southern crews have responded and have been working through the night on cleanup. We'd also like to thank the first responders who quickly arrived on-scene and took care of our crew.
\u201c\ud83d\udea8#BREAKING: 2 hospitalized after 11 car Norfolk Southern train derailment in Jasper, Alabama; diesel and engine fuel spilled #BreakingNews \n\n\ud83d\udcf7 Bill Castle\u201d
— Breaking News (@Breaking News) 1681057794

Another Norfolk Southern train derailed around 9:30 a.m. on Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Five empty cars veered off the track.

Norfolk Southern senior communications manager Connor Spielmaker said no hazardous materials were involved and there were no reported injuries.

Spielmaker said, "We appreciate the community's patience" while crews take care of the derailed cars.

Last month, another Norfolk Southern train derailed in Alabama. In that incident, roughly 37 cars went off the tracks in Calhoun County. There were no injuries and no reports of dangerous leaks.

The derailment happened just hours before the CEO of Norfolk Southern testified before Congress regarding the train derailment that spilled toxic material in East Palestine, Ohio.

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Five empty Norfolk Southern train cars derail in Pittsburgh www.youtube.com

Report: Norfolk Southern has greased politicians' hands to the tune of nearly $100 million since 1990



Norfolk Southern Railway, the company responsible for over half of the hazmat rail incidents in 2022 and the catastrophic Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has spent a great deal of money over the past 30 years to win favor amongst America's political elites.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), the Environmental Protection Agency, and others have suggested that Norfolk Southern will be held accountable for the cleanup in East Palestine, Ohio; now home an ecological disaster that has killed wildlife, turned the sky black, and threatened the residents' ways of life.

Biden's Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, accountable the nation's system of railroads and the regulation of its railways, repeated the claim that those responsible or possibly malfeasant will be held accountable, suggesting also that he would turn to Congress for help in tackling violators amongst the rail companies, reported Fortune.

A new report from the New Republic suggested that some of those expected to help hold Norfolk Southern responsible are the same that have gladly taken its money in the past.

The rail industry has spent nearly $800 million to lobby the government that is supposed to oversee them since 1998.

According to Open Secrets, Norfolk Southern spent $1.8 million lobbying last year and $1.6 million the year before. Since 1998, it has spent over $79 million on lobbying efforts and $16,948,996 on political contributions.

That money has made its way to both sides of the aisle.

The company favored Democratic congressional candidates 55.27% to 44.72%, but doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars to persons of all political persuasions who may one day be called to hold it accountable.

Senatorial and congressional campaign committees for both parties received money from the railway last year — as did 71 Democrats and 62 Republicans in Congress.

For instance, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) received $10,000 from Norfolk Southern last year, as did leftist Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth (Ill.), Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell received $5,000 as did Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.).

Almost half of the crowded House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure pocketed money from Norfolk Southern.

The relationship that the government — which the residents of East Palestine have been told will ensure justice is meted out — has with the company is incestuous for reasons beyond money.

75% of the company's lobbyists last year previously held government positions.

TheBlaze previously reported that Norfolk Southern Railroad just celebrated "double-digit percentage growth in revenue and ... record revenue and operating income," noting in its end-of-year financial report that it had raked in $12.7 billion in 2022, up 14% over the previous year. The railway managed this despite reportedly accounting for over half the hazmat damages involving rail transportation in the U.S. last year.

The New York Times reported that the rate of accidents on the company's railway has increased in each of the last four years.

Albers, Illinois, for instance, was swept by 20,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate monomer, a combustible liquid, on Sept. 19, 2022, after a Norfolk Southern derailment. Sandusky, Ohio, similarly was streaked with spillage, this time 20,000 gallons of paraffin wax in October 2022.

Bank of America analyst Ken Hoexter indicated last week that in the case of the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern disaster in Ohio, the railway may have to pay $40 million to $50 million in a "casualty charge," reported FreightWaves. However, on the top end, this would equal roughly 1.7% of its 2022 profits and amount to a drop in the bucket.

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