Cleaning up 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel: Crews working to limit impact to environment, wildlife

SLINGER (WITI) -- The twisted metal of rail cars stretches across the tracks in the heart of Slinger. Around 8:30 Sunday night, July 20th, a Canadian National train and a Wisconsin & Southern Railroad train collided. The collision prompted the spill of 5,000 gallons of potentially flammable diesel fuel. That has crews working to limit the impact to the environment and to wildlife in the area.

"Very diesely this morning -- but now it's dissipating," Jim Schulteis said.

The smell of fuel caught Schulteis' attention after the train collision, and the efforts to contain the fuel were noticed as well.

On Schulteis' property, crews dug and covered a retaining area in the event more diesel fuel makes its way there.

"A containment dam, and this contains the diesel fuel that gets out of the brick pond and ends up in Pike Lake," Schulteis said.

The liquid can be suctioned out by tanker trucks seen around areas near the crash site.

"They're making a pocket there so the pumper can pump out the diesel as it comes," Schulteis said.

Patrick Waldron with Canadian National says they're working with the DNR on a comprehensive response to eliminate odor and to help protect nearby creeks and ponds -- as well as wildlife. The DNR is focused on about a mile-and-a-half area where the spill flowed alongside the tracks, into a culvert and beyond -- sharing a picture of the cleanup process that involves dealing with tainted soil.

"We're doing some soil testing, some water testing," Waldron said.

"They're containing it. They're trying to contain it," Schulteis said.

Aside from the smell, Schulteis says he's pleased with the early environmental efforts. Crews will be spending more time dealing with the fallout.

"Our teams will be here probably for the remainder of the week," Waldron said.

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