ON MARCH 3, 2015, EPA AND CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC. ( CSX TRANSPORTATION ) ENTERED INTO AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT UNDER SECTIONS 311 (C) AND 311 (E) OF THE CWA TO CLEANUP OIL AT THE CSX TRANSPORTATION DERAILMENT SITE IN MOUNT CARBON, WEST VIRGINIA (THE CONSENT ORDER ) . ON FEBRUARY 16, 2015, 27 CARS FROM A CSX TRANSPORATION TRAIN, EACH CARRYING APPROXIMATELY 29,000 GALLONS OF BAKKEN CRUDE OIL OR SWEET CRUDE OIL DERAILED, CAUSING THE DISCHARGE OF OIL AND FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS. DUE TO THE FIRES, WHICH BURNED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE DAYS, A RESIDENTIAL HOUSE GARAGE WERE DESTROYED. THE DERAILMENT CAUSED THE RELEASE OF CRUDE OIL ONTO THE SHORELINES OF AND INTO BOTH ARMSTRONG CREEK AND THE KANAWHA RIVER, EPA DETERMIEND THAT THE SPILL POSED A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH OR WELFARE OF THE UNITED STATES DUE TO THE DISCHARGE OR THREAT OF DISCHARGE OF OIL INTO WATERS OF THE UNITED STATE OR THEIR ADJOINING SHORELINES.
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE DERAILMENT, CSX, INC., PERSONNEL AND CONTRACTORS COMMENCED EMERGENCY CLEANUP OPERATIONS, UNDER THE OVERSIGHT OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD, EPA, AND THE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTEMTN FO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIN ( WVDEP ), BY INITIALING MITIGATION EFFORTS, INCLUDING THE DISPATCHING OF BOOM AND THE INSTALLATION OF A METAL SHEET PILE WALL TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF OIL, THE EXCAVATION OF A RECEPTOR TRENCH, AN THE USE OF VACUUM TRUCKS AND TANKS TO COLLECT OIL MIXED WITH WATER. THE CONSENT ORDER PROVICES FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THESE EFFORTS WITH ONGOING EP