The fire from two overturned oil tanker cars continued to burn into mid-day Friday near Galena after derailing more than 24-hours ago. BNSF Railway says those two cars were of a newer design and had been retrofitted with protective shielding designed to prevent rupturing. The two burning cars were among six that left the tracks in a wooded area three miles from Galena. There were no injuries and firefighters are letting the cars burn themselves out. The derailment has local leaders across the state renewing their call for tougher federal regulations and more information about these "rolling pipelines" that cross the state with increasing frequency.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has announced that Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad has agreed to pay $570,000 following a June 2009 derailment in Cherry Valley that spilled ethanol and killed thousands of fish in northern Illinois.
Reports indicate that 19 of the 114 tanker cars left the rails at the crossing on South Mulford Road. The problem was caused by a track washout. Around 75,000 gallons of ethanol spilled out of the tankers.
$270,000 of the settlement goes to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and $150,000 to the Illinois EPA.
The railroad company will also pay $150,000 on stream restoration.
