DOUGLAS COUNTY–Authorities are investigating a potential hazardous materials leak in Douglas County.
Just after 10:30 a.m. on Saturday Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical (LDCFM) was dispatched to a reported leak of an unknown substance from a rail car that was parked on a siding near the 400 block of Locust Street in the North Lawrence neighborhood, according to Fire Chief Rich Llewellyn
Members of the LDCFM’s Hazardous Materials Team responded to the incident and made contact with a witness who indicated that the rail car had started to leak a few days earlier. Procedures were immediately initiated to contain and mitigate the spill.
The national chemical response call center CHEMTREC was consulted and based on the markings on the railcar, identified that the leaking material was a Magnesium Chloride solution. This product is regularly applied to non-paved roads for dust abatement and to paved roads for deicing purposes.
Information provided by CHEMTREK confirmed that this product presents no hazard to the community.
Douglas County Emergency Management, City of Lawernce Municipal Services & Operations, Union Pacific Railroad, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment are cooperating in this response.
This joint effort aims to ensure that the cleanup process is conducted in accordance with all necessary regulations and guidelines, minimizing any potential impact on the community and the environment.
There is no ongoing leak from the rail car and there is no hazard to the surrounding area. LDCFM will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety and well-being of the community, according to Fire Chief Llewellyn
There have been no injuries reported from the incident response.