![500px Obed Wild and Scenic River OBRI4320]()
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.
Obed officials previously stated on its Facebook page the areas would reopen “when the damage has been assessed and cleanup work has been completed to make the area safe for those activities.” The EPA reported that Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation had figured out from sampling that ethanol and firefighting foam 2-butoxyethanol levels by June 25 were below the levels warranting a swimming ban.
However, the spill may have already killed some fish. The EPA reported dead fish in the Emory River near Harriman and that investigations pointed to it being due to the ethanol effects. The fish might have died due to a lack of dissolved oxygen caused by bacteria and other microbes breaking down the ethanol and using the oxygen up. The EPA stated it, Norfolk Southern, TDEC and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) were taking steps to study and fix the problem by artificially increasing the level of dissolved oxygen. People may call TWRA at 1-800-332-0900 if they see more dead fish or other aquatic life.
TDEC has notified people downstream who use the water from intakes about the water’s danger and need for treatment.
