Source: http://www.northjersey.com, November 23, 2015
By: Hasime Kukaj
Saturday’s train derailment in Nutley is under investigation, according to authorities.
Nutley police responded to the intersection of Hillside Avenue and High Street at 2:53 p.m., after someone reported a cargo container fell off the tracks.
Upon arrival, police observed several cargo containers leaning hazardously off the tracks, with one overturned. According to police, it appeared that the soil beneath the tracks gave way, causing the train to tip.
Police secured the area, and notified Norfolk Southern.
Norfolk Southern spokesman Dave Pidgeon said Monday that two freight cars derailed; one car stayed upright, while the other overturned and leaked 4 cubic yards of soil with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl).
The soil was released on a parking lot, Pidgeon said.
“We do not believe there is any contamination to water or air,” Pidgeon stated. “We are today checking with a contractor to make sure we have everything cleaned up properly.”
Pidgeon said that the train was making a delivery in the area. The train returned to normal operations about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, he added.
According to Roche spokesperson, Darien Wilson, the soil was being transported from the Clifton/Nutley Roche property, as part of the environmental remediation. The pharmaceutical company plans to sell the property by the end of the year.
“What we have in the cars will be repacked into new cars,” Wilson said. “We’re working with Norfolk Southern to see what they need to do on the rail lines.”
According to Wilson, the two damaged units were brought back to the Roche site.
“Everything was handled very quickly,” Wilson said, noting that police and Roche personnel were onsite all weekend.
Wilson said that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was notified about the spill.