Superior, Wisconsin Train Derailment; Intersection of State Highway 35, the Nemadji River, and the Burlington Northern rail line, Superior, Wisconsin

Intersection of State Highway 35, the Nemadji River, and the Burlington Northern rail line, Superior, Wisconsin | 1992-Jun-30

Initial Notification: The spill was caused by a train derailment at Burlington Northern bridge on Nemadji river at 46.42 N, 92.02 W. in the early hours of 6/29/92 local time. There are two cars in the water:; an LPG tank car and a tank car carrying an aromatic concentration of mostly benzene( 45%) and dicyclopentadiene(13%) with assorted other hydrocarbons. A total of 15,000 gallons has already leaked out with a potential of 35,000 gallons total(no sourc for estimate). We don't know if the product is still leaking or the location of hole. The river at the location of the bridge is fairly shallow with a depth of only 7 feet. The flow rate is above average( 830,000 gpm) which means it will quickly flush any of the spilled product into the Superior harbor basin. The water in Superior Bay itself is probably fairly stagnant with a high turbidity. Residence times for water in the northern part of the bay is several days. USCG district 9. Keyword: Centers for Disease Control, containment boom, evaporation, low-pressure washing, salvage, sorbent boom.