Whitewater Township trustees are holding a meeting to address chemical leaks

CINCINNATI (WXIX) — Whitewater Township trustees held a meeting Monday to address residents' concerns about a chemical leak last week that led to the evacuation of more than 200 homes.

On September 24, a railcar began leaking styrene, a flammable and explosive chemical. Residents within a half-mile radius of the site, near US 50 and State Route 128, had to evacuate.

Local officials said they sent the railroad company several messages about attending Tuesday's meeting, but no representatives showed up. They said the air in the area was safe and tests showed styrene levels were below the legal limit.

Ineos was the company that took over the railcar. The Railroad of Central Indiana was the company that owned the car.

“Personally, I am sorry for what happened to the residents who had to evacuate and leave their homes,” said Trustee Doug King. “I am one of them.”

Hamilton County Health Commissioner Greg Kesterman gave a presentation on styrene. He said the amount of styrene released into the air was below the legal limit.

“The styrene leaking from a train car looks scary and is not pleasant,” Kesterman said. “But styrene gas is used in all kinds of products that we all come into contact with every day.”

Some residents said they and their family became ill during the leak.

Many residents were upset that the railcar had sat at the site for seven days. The Railroad of Central Indiana, which owned the car, said it would no longer let a railcar sit that long.

“How can we as a community stop them from parking toxic waste?” asked one resident.

An official said Ineos had been informed that it could no longer allow railcars to sit on tracks outside its facility.

Officials said the risk of infection at home is low. They encouraged people to clean and throw away any open food or water that was left out during the leak.

They stressed that the water supply was safe and that people could have their wells tested if they had concerns.

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