Displaying items by tag: emory river fish kills

A popular swimming area and campground were closed in Obed Wild and Scenic River in Morgan County following a train derailment into the Emory River near its confluence with the Obed. Swimming areas have reopened, but fish kills have been detected in the river three weeks after the train derailment. National Park Service

Fire-fighting foam and as much as 30,000 gallons of ethanol spilled into river in Morgan County

LANCING — Weeks after a fiery trainwreck dumped thousands of gallons of ethanol into the Emory River, a popular recreation area closed by the spill reopened but fish kills persist.

The Environmental Protection Agency reported the Norfolk Southern Railway train was carrying ethanol tanks when it derailed along the Emory River on June 11 in the Lancing community of Morgan County. Twenty-nine cars derailed, including 19 denatured ethanol cars carrying about 25,000 to 30,000 gallons total. Three cars caught fire. The EPA and other agencies and first responders had “stabilized” the area by June 16 and put out the fires, according to EPA.

Obed Wild and Scenic River, a part of the National Park Service, closed its popular Nemo Bridge swimming area and Rock Creek Campground to swimming and fishing on Friday, June 12. It reopened that swimming area on Saturday, June 27.