MORGAN COUNTY, Tenn. — Officials say testing continues to show encouraging results following the June 11 Norfolk Southern train derailment near the Emory River in Morgan County. Drinking water wells near the derailment site have not been affected by the spill, according to environmental officials.
Regional Risk Assessors tested two wells located within the same watershed but across the Emory River from the derailment site. The wells draw water from deep groundwater sources, and testing found no impacts related to the derailment or the release of ethanol and other alcohol-based products. Officials also indicated that other nearby wells are not expected to be affected.
The update comes as cleanup efforts continue following the derailment, which involved multiple railcars carrying hazardous materials. Norfolk Southern estimates approximately 107,000 gallons of alcohol products were released during the incident.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation previously issued a temporary contact advisory for portions of the Emory River downstream from the derailment. That advisory was lifted on June 24 after monitoring showed ethanol and related compounds had fallen below EPA-recommended guidance levels.
Officials have noted that the ethanol released into the river is the same type used in alcoholic beverages and is biodegradable. Environmental monitoring of the river and surrounding area continues as recovery efforts move forward.
