No significant environmental threat found following St Catherine train derailment, says NEPA
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Following UC Rusal’s bauxite train derailment in the Bog Walk Gorge on Saturday, August 9, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is reporting that its assessment of the site has deduced that the risk to the environment is low.
The accident, which involved seven rail carts transporting alumina to the port, saw three of the carts toppling over the retaining embankment and one partially entering the river. However, ground inspections and drone imagery confirmed that there was no significant threat to the environment as alumina spillage was minimal and confined to the base of the embankment.
In addition, further evaluation by the agency found that none of the derailed carts contained hazardous materials. NEPA is also reporting that there was no sign of oil contamination or fish deaths in the vicinity of the accident and that the river’s condition remained unchanged since Saturday afternoon.
The agency is currently overseeing the clean-up operation, which is being undertaken by UC Rusal, to ensure that the surrounding environment remains safe.
