Environmental risk from derailed bauxite train low - NEPA

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says its assessment at the site where UC Rusal’s bauxite train derailed in the Bog Walk Gorge in St Catherine on Saturday has found that the risk to the environment is low.

The accident, which involved seven rail carts transporting alumina to the port, saw three of the carts toppling over the retaining embankment and one partially entering the river.

However, NEPA says ground inspections and drone imagery confirmed that there was no significant threat to the environment as alumina spillage was minimal and confined to the base of the embankment.

In addition, further evaluation by the Agency reportedly found that none of the derailed carts contained hazardous materials.

NEPA says there was no sign of oil contamination or fish deaths in the vicinity of the accident and that the river’s condition remained unchanged since Saturday afternoon.

The Agency says it is currently overseeing the clean-up operation, which is being undertaken by UC Rusal, to ensure that the surrounding environment remains safe.

UC Rusal has said its investigative team is probing the cause of the derailment, but no completion date has been set.

Mining Minister Floyd Green has also directed the Jamaica Bauxite Institute and the Mining Division to conduct a joint probe to determine the causes and recommend safety improvements.

Residents living near the crash site have expressed concern about the maintenance of the track.

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