Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Rail car off track, leaking HCA

NEW ORLEANS - A rail car carrying hydrochloric acid (HCA) broke open after it went off the tracks Nov. 2 in eastern St. James Parish, La., near the rural community of Paulina/ The rail car started leaking the acid forcing highway closures and the evacuation of about 150 people, parish officials said. The leaking car was one of several that derailed around 2 p.m. Wednesday. The cylindrical tank cars appeared to come off their wheels. No injuries were reported from the leak. Eric Deroche, St. James homeland security director, said the tank car was holding 20,308 gallons of hydrochloric acid. The Canadian National Railway Co. was sending a cleanup contractor. By mid-afternoon the containment and cleanup could take 24 hours. The acid is not flammable but is corrosive. (NOLA.com 11/02/22)


UPDATE 11/04/22Residents who were evacuated this week when a Canadian National freight train derailed and spilled dangerous hydrochloric acid in St. James Parish have filed their first lawsuits over the accident. After train derailment causes acid leak, evacuation in St. James, nearby residents file lawsuits | Courts | nola.com

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