Statement on contaminated water coming to Baltimore from Ohio train derailment.
Last week we were made aware of contaminated water coming from the Ohio train derailment to Baltimore for treatment and disposal. I was on a call with the EPA and elected officials over the weekend to learn more about what is going on. There will be an emergency hearing next week where we will learn more. Here is an update and my words of caution on this:
The water is rain water that has been collected around the derailment site. The water has been contained because of the contamination from the train and the chemicals it was carrying.
The main contaminant is vinyl chloride, although there other other contaminants as well.
The water is tested prior to being shipped by rail. Current levels are low, but the concerns are there which means it has to be cleaned and disposed of.
The water will be coming by CSX rail to Baltimore. It will stop first at Clean Harbors - a business that has been cleaning toxic and hazardous waste for many decades here in Baltimore. It is located near the casino and stadiums on Russell Street. This facility takes waste from across the state and region, cleans it, and disposes of it. Apparently they take even more severely toxic waste than what is coming from Ohio. Clean Harbors will clean the water. The contaminants will be collected and burned in an incinerator (not ours) - I have some follow up to do here because this is a concern.
Clean Harbors in Baltimore was chosen from all of it’s other facilities because it has a specific permit to clean such waste and it has a rail line.
Then the water will come to Back River treatment plant through the sewer system. It will be cleaned again and then put into Back River, which dumps into the Chesapeake Bay.
Back River has had challenges in the past few years, and still is under MES and MDE monitoring.
EPA will be facilitating this entire situation, and will monitor.
There is significant opposition from Baltimore City elected officials, and from Baltimore County elected officials (Back River plant is owned by Baltimore City but located in Baltimore County).
Here are my thoughts on this situation:
I agree with my colleagues that we should do everything we can to oppose the transfer of this waste to our facilities. I am concerned about travel by rail or by truck given the recent crashes. This would completely defeat the purpose of transporting the waste if it then spills during transport. While Clean Harbors sounds reputable, we need clear evidence that their work is such that the water coming from their facility will be inspected by the EPA and not just their testing before going through our pipe. Also, the Back River challenges need to be completely corrected before anything lands here.