The Chicago, Central & Pacific Railroad Company (CCP) will pay $570,000 to settle damages from a 2009 train derailment in Cherry Valley that resulted in one death, a fire and the release of thousands of gallons of ethanol into the surrounding environment.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office announced the settlement Thursday.
On June 19, 2009, a Canadian National train carrying a mixture of ethanol and gasoline derailed.
The resulting explosion and fire killed a Rockford woman who had stopped at the railroad crossing on Mulford Road south of Sandy Hollow Road. Nine other people were injured, two of them seriously.
Up to 75,000 gallons of the fuel mixture were spilled, resulting in a significant fish kill in the Rock River. Biologists believe more than 72,000 fish were killed, calling it one of the largest fish kills in Illinois history.
Biologists believe more than 72,000 fish were killed in the Rock River the weekend of June 19, calling it one of the largest fish kills in Illinois history. - See more at: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20100619/News/306199946/?Start=1#sthash.cIbXcFld.dpuf
Biologists believe more than 72,000 fish were killed in the Rock River the weekend of June 19, calling it one of the largest fish kills in Illinois history. - See more at: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20100619/News/306199946/?Start=1#sthash.cIbXcFld.dpuf
Biologists believe more than 72,000 fish were killed in the Rock River the weekend of June 19, calling it one of the largest fish kills in Illinois history. - See more at: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20100619/News/306199946#sthash.cIbXcFld.dpuf
Since then, under the oversight of IEPA, CCP has worked on remediating the contaminated areas.
“This derailment caused significant impacts to the air, land and water, which required a thorough investigation, substantial research and extensive environmental remediation,” said Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett. “The coordinated efforts of state agencies have completed the investigation and cleanup of the release, and this final consent order brings closure to one of Illinois’ largest environmental emergencies.”
Under the terms of the settlement, CCP will pay a total of $150,000 to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) and Winnebago County to settle alleged violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act resulting from the release of ethanol into the area, including several miles of the Rock River and its tributaries.
CCP also agreed to pay $270,000 to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), to fund restoration projects at two natural areas near the Rock River. CCP will also undertake an additional $150,000 stream restoration project in the affected area.
“This settlement ensures funding is in place to complete efforts to restore the natural areas damaged by the ethanol leak,” Attorney General Madigan said.