Data visualization services expedite environmental impact assessment for Class 1 Railroad

Our client had seven out of a total of fifteen railcars derail, resulting in the release of approximately 100,000 gallons of liquids and/or chemicals. During the derailment, the chemicals were released into storm water drainage features parallel to the roadway. Our client required immediate action to avoid environmental and regulatory damage and reassure community stakeholders of the status and progress on remediation.

The best way to determine how far the contamination spread and how deep it soaked into the ground is through an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). These EIAs are required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in case of emergency cleanup efforts and help organizations report response activities and community disruptions, for example, road and school closures, and evacuations.

Without a proper EIA, our client would be fined and potentially face future litigation. To expedite and ensure they responded to their challenge, our client enlisted help from teams across GHD and GHD Digital.

Immediately, we deployed field staff from our Emergency Response team to conduct sampling and field screening from the derailment area to determine the degree of environmental impact. By collecting this information, our client could communicate the details of the affected site to their stakeholders (i.e., internal teams, clients, regulators, and community members).

From the collected samples, GHD Digital’s Digital Intelligence (DI) team provided pertinent data by developing analytical data tables and sample location figures. The analytical data meant that we could specify the exact date and location of the samples and show analytical data and field screening measurements to document our response efforts in real-time. This process allowed the GHD Emergency Response team and the client to keep the TCEQ up to date on the progress of the clean-up efforts.

From this information, our DI team assembled, collated, and displayed each sample and relevant data to help our client’s decision-making process regarding the next steps in remediation. The data was also presented in a manner that was easy for our client to see the locations of the contamination and allowed them to determine the areas that met regulatory requirements for closure quickly, and which areas needed further remediation.

As a result of our efforts, our client ensured legal requirements were fulfilled while keeping their stakeholders informed by providing 30-day and 180-day letters to regulators (as letter reporting is a routine process for all contamination assessment and remediation projects).

For example, they could answer questions about enforcement orders and potential civil liability (i.e., how quickly they responded to the derailment, how long it took to understand the affected areas, and how long it took to remediate the contamination). These questions were answered easily and allowed for a seamless transition from the regulatory requirements of the emergency spill response rule under the TCEQ Enforcement Division to the TCEQ Remediation Division’s Corrective Action Section.

Additionally, our client achieved their remediation goals on schedule, as we provided timely updates on assessment activities each day. This process helped them track progress and show their immediate action in the face of changing circumstances while preparing for any litigation that might arise.

And finally, by mobilizing quickly and efficiently, we helped our client minimize potential damage to their reputation. Through these efforts, they ensured the continuity of their operations and services and commitment to their community.