Derailment could bring catastrophe
To the editor: I have lived in Barrington for over 40 years and have witnessed many changes -- but I never thought I'd see the day when an outside force would trample our residents' safety and environment to the extent that Canadian National portends with its plans to greatly increase freight traffic on the EJ&E tracks in Barrington.
What's the worst thing that can happen: Gridlock with cars and trucks backed up for miles and no alternative routes? An ambulance racing against the clock to Good Shepherd Hospital to save a heart attack patient? Or fire engines or police trying to crack the congestion on Northwest Highway to get to a fire or auto accident on the west side of town?
They all pale by comparison to the potential for freight train accidents and derailments. Ask the residents of Tamaroa, Ill., about their worst day, Feb. 9, 2003, when 22 tank cars derailed. Cars containing hydrochloric acid, vinyl chloride, methanol and methanol/formaldehyde mixture ruptured during the derailment. Some of the cars containing methanol caught fire. The entire population of Tamaroa was forced to evacuate, some for as long as a week.
Residents breathed harmful chemicals; their skin was exposed; toxic substances contaminated their food and water. They suffered physical pain, fear, anguish and emotional distress. They incurred medical expenses and lost wages, and diminished property values.
Is Barrington prepared for this kind of catastrophe? Tamaroa might be a cakewalk compared to the kind of long-lasting environmental devastation caused by derailment of nuclear waste shipments. Spent fuel and other nuclear reactor wastes put every town along the route at risk of severe accidents and terrorist attacks that could release catastrophic amounts of radioactivity.
Does Barrington have adequate resources to respond to chemical or nuclear accidents? At the Jan. 9 public relations event at Makray Golf Club, I asked a CN representative if CN would contract for nuclear waste shipments. He said, "I don't know. I'm not in marketing." This is the kind of information that the village of Barrington needs to know.
Let us not go blindly into this bad night.
Catherine Quigg
Barrington