Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 19
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
Railway Accident: Minot, ND 2002
• Derailment of 31 cars
• Immediate release of
~150,000 gallons of
anhydrous ammonia
from 5 of 15 cars
• One car airborne _ mile
striking a house
• Plume 300 feet high
spreading 5 miles
downwind
http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2004/RAR0401.pdf
Module One – Toxic Industrial Gases as Terrorist Threats
19
This next case study demonstrates the toxicity associated with an ammonia exposure.
On January 18, 2002 at 1:37AM, a major train derailment (secondary to a rail break from
fractured joint bars) occurred approximately 0.5 mile west of Minot, ND. A total of 31
cars derailed, 15 of which contained anhydrous ammonia. Five of these 15 lost all of
their contents, immediately releasing an estimated 146,700 gallons of anhydrous
ammonia which created a visible plume spreading for 5 miles. Six other cars leaked
contents (74,000 gallons) over the next 5 days.
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