NATIONAL RESPONSE TEAM

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Federal On-Scene Coordinator:

At 6:30am local time the Coast Guard received report of a railroad tank car explosion at the ATOFINA Chemical Plant. The leaking tank car has a capacity of 25,000 gallons and contained methyl mercaptan. To ensure safety of mariners and the public, Trenton Channel and Detroit River were closed and four residential communities were requested to evacuate or shelter in place. The Coast Guard activated two special teams to assist in responding to the incident, the Scientific Support Coordinator and members of the Atlantic Strike Team. At 12:45 the fire department had secured the leak of mercaptan and were cooling nearby chlorine tank cars which were venting. As a result of this incident three employees were confirmed dead and at least one other was injured. At 4:45pm the waterways were reopened and all private citizens except those in the immediate area had been allowed to return. Residual water and air monitoring continue along with the assessment of tank cars. The Atlantic Strike Team also continues to provide assistance. No specific environmental resources were identified as being at risk. The U.S. Coast Guard has also been working closely with the Canadian Coast Guard to address the information needs of the Canadian Government, who had concerns about the residual plume from the earlier fire. CASE CLOSED.