Rails of Disaster: Union Pacific s Toxic Tracks in San Antonio, TX 2004

The Reality Southwest Workers Union South-Town Organizing Project Rails of Disaster: Union Pacific s Toxic Tracks in San Antonio, TX 2004 The piercing sound of the railroad is a daily reality for the citizens of San Antonio, especially in the southside where the crisscross of tracks carry speeding trains with toxic materials through neighborhoods and disrupts vehicular and pedestrian traffic several times an hour. Dilapidated tracks owned by Union Pacific and broken railroad crossings mark and divide communities. There are over 162 schools and hospitals within 1 mile of the railroad and over ½ a million residents live along the railroad along with the Alamo Dome that holds 70,000 people. The Toxics Tracks Union Pacific is the #1 carrier of hazardous toxics that puts the community in the face of disproportionate and irresponsible risk. Rails carry million of tons of chemicals through Texas every year, with over 50 million tons (30%) originating or terminating in Texas, more than any other state, with a vast majority of the rail lines passing through San Antonio. While information of the materials carried by railroad is now unavailable to the public, the chemicals carried most frequently through the backyards of residents are: Sulfuric Acid causes burning of skin and lungs, can be fatal Liquefied Petroleum Gases flammable, highly explosive Toluene Dilisocyanate irritates skin and eyes and damage respiratory and central nervous systems Sodium hydroxide solution causes severe burning and scarring Paraformaldehyde irritates skin, eyes and lungs Chlorine causes emphysema, lung damage & death The toxic tracks of Union Pacific connect several environmental justice communities as the tracks mark the industrial corridors that poison and endanger poor and people of color families. Rails connect the southwest community, a community contaminated by the activities of Kelly Air Force Base, now an industrial park. The 1

area is the Lone Star Industrial Corridor (LSIC) situated along the tracks, is a narrow strip that stretches about 15 miles from Southwest San Antonio, at Kelly AFB and Union Pacific Railroad switching station, to south-central San Antonio cutting across to the eastside switching station and to Koch Refinery and fuel storage tanks. This area houses numerous grandfathered industries that are exempt from current environmental regulations and enforcement. Union Pacific Quintana Rail Yard The Union Pacific Quintana yard sits along Quintana Rd. adjacent to the former Kelly Air Force Base, now Kelly USA a privatized industrial park, site to 4 derailments this year alone. The rail yard is a conglomerate of over 20 rails constantly moving trains in and out of the community. The soil is contaminated due to numerous spills, leakage and dumping and the groundwater is polluted with diesel. In 1994 the yard was site to an explosion of ammonium nitrate which resulted in the evacuation of 2,500 people in the surrounding area. Sodium cyanide spills and diesel fuel spills have also been documented. The Derailments While the railroad has always been a concern for the residents, 2004 has brought an unprecedented rash of disasters for the communities inside Bexar County. Since the start of this year Union Pacific has amassed 21 derailments in San Antonio, the majority concentrated in Southern part of the city. The deadly year of Union Pacific started with several trains plunging off a bridge behind a high school spilling almost 6 thousand gallons of diesel fuel into the San Antonio River in May. In a short 7 months, the unconscionable negligence of Union Pacific and lax action of elected officials have caused 10 derailments, have taken 5 lives of Bexar County residents, have left over 50 people suffering from injuries and have recklessly placed thousands more at risk. In June, two trains collided causing the deadliest rail accident in more than a decade in the United States as over 90 tons of chlorine gas ruptured, killing 3 people. The chlorine cloud sent over 50 people to nearby hospitals. Months later another man died from exposure to chlorine and the health of many more residents is severely compromised. On several occasions, toxic cars were one or two away from those derailed. In November, 2

the reckless behavior of Union Pacific crushed a young worker as he sat at his desk as a train car plunged into a commercial building. While tracks are fixed immediately, neither the railroad nor the City have yet to repair the sidewalks or bridge from the derailment in May, leaving hundreds of students without a safe path to walk. Organizing & Outreach In response to each derailment, SWU organized an action and media event to highlight the dangerous reality created by Union Pacific for neighborhoods and demand immediate action from the railroad and the elected officials to address Union Pacific s disregard for the safety of San Antonio. Receiving extensive media coverage, SWU brought to light the community perspective, largely ignored by both the corporations and the elected officials. As Union Pacific took no action to address the lack of safety, UP was actively pushing to weaken existing safety laws. SWU and CEJA developed position papers and attended public hearings organized by Congressman Charlie Gonzalez. As September saw the fourth derailment mangle 27 cars in the backyards of residents two blocks from the May derailment, SWU initiated a comprehensive blockwalking effort in the area just south of downtown, called South-Town. Residents organized under previous work of SWU in the Lone Star Industrial Corridor communicated with SWU about focusing on a community-based strategy around the Union Pacific railroad. SWU developed popular education materials about the toxic tracks of Union Pacific. Through this door-to-door effort, residents explained their experience and concerns of living near the railroad. Through this initiative, two protests were organized that led to an initial community meeting. South-Town Organizing Project (STOP) The first meeting of 30 people was composed of trainings on Union Pacific and a participatory method to develop community-based demands. After two meetings a core group of leaders was consolidated into the steering committee and formed Local 15 of SWU: the South-Town Organizing Project (STOP). Neither the company nor any public official had spoken to member or leaders of the impacted 3

community. Under the identity of STOP, community leaders brainstormed and developed a plan of education that centered around education and mobilization of the local neighborhood. Through the first month, the organizing has transferred from SWU staff to the residents coalesced under the STOP identity and assuming ownership of the organization. SWU-STOP develop a resolution focused on the three key demands: (1) The immediate moratorium of transport of toxic materials through the City of San Antonio; (2) Immediate implementation and training of school and neighborhood evacuation plans; (3) the re-routing of Union Pacific tracks around the City of San Antonio and away from populated areas. Over 500 signatures has been collected. STOP also undertook extensive research into Railroad Enforcement Laws and City and School emergency evacuation plans. SWU-STOP Demands Immediate- A Moratorium on all hazardous waste transport through the City of San Antonio An Emergency Evacuation Plan for the communities and schools to be designed and implemented immediately to insure the health and safety of our families. Public disclosure of all materials carried by Union Pacific per route Short Term- City of San Antonio must be designated a slow zone for all train travel, regardless of time City of San Antonio must be designated a quiet zone for all train travel All crossing must be safety standards to meet community and City needs Strict enforcement of environmental standards and safety regulations Long Term- Union Pacific must Re-route the railroad around the City of San Antonio Zoning laws that allow polluting industries and railroads to be located across the street from homes and schools need to be addressed and amended to protect the safety of the communities first. Community & Public Visibility As Union Pacific s game of Russian Roulette continued for the people of San Antonio, SWU-STOP rallied around the principle message: Re-Route Union Pacific s Toxic Tracks. Yard Signs with the message has been placed throughout the community and gained extensive support from local businesses. Over 60 signs 4

currently line the streets of the South-Town area and thousands of residents have received Union Pacific fact sheets. SWU- STOP has leverage extensive media coverage after every derailment to expose the community message and demands. The consistent public exposure has proved a key tool to anchoring political influence and pushing accountability from elected officials. SWU-STOP was the first to frame the series of derailments as a question of environmental racism. All the derailments have occurred in the South side or the East side of the City, both poor areas, the former primarily Mexican/ Mexican-American community, and the latter, the traditionally African-American area. In contrast, the rails of the wealthy NOrthside has not seen any of the 21 derailments of 2004. Collectively, SWU, CEJA and STOP demand equal protection for their families in light of the derailments that plague environmental justice communities. STOP Organization as a Critical Force One of the first immediate concerns was the bridge, underpass and sidewalk damaged by the May derailment. The structural damage that compromised the safety of student forced to pass beneath to travel to school which was neglected by Union Pacific and the City for 7 months. A meeting with the Councilwomen resulted in the immediate improvement of the bridge and the assumption of a position on the dangers of the railroad. SWU-STOP is currently engaging proactively with the board members and police department of San Antonio Independent School District to: (a) work on language for a resolution of support for the re-routing 5

of the toxic tracks; (b) evaluate the proximity of schools to railroad tracks and the preparedness of each school to respond to a derailments; and (c) critical assess the existing emergency evacuation plans and conduct regular mock evacuations with staff. Town Hall Meeting SWU-STOP strategize the construction of a town hall meeting to bring together the community with the political and corporate entities to highlight community testimony to educated the forces in power and to create a space for dialogue between the various stakeholders. While this concept was coopted by City Council, the meeting occurred on December 6 th and was dominated by the mobilization of members of STOP. The mayor and County Judge attended townhall meeting and met with STOP leaders. Several UP representatives also participated. Over 30 members opened the meeting with a protest demanding immediate action for the safety of the community and the Rerouting of Union Pacific toxic tracks. STOP leaders presented numerous facts about Union Pacific and the dangerous conditions it creates bringing dangerous chemicals and substances through residential areas. Members also unveiled the beginnings of alternative emergency evacuation plans that would better serve the needs of the community. The Committee for Environmental Justice Action (CEJA) who has been fighting for clean up of the military toxics at the former Kelly AFB, joined the STOP group demanding the rerouting of UP. CEJA community members are impacted by the Quintana switching station and the tracks that run through Kelly going southeast across the southern half of SA. The issue has received considerable coverage. Accomplishments: Established membership and steering committee of SWU Local 15, the South- Town Organizing Project (STOP) Protest Union Pacific at derailment sites on 10 occasions Research on Union Pacific and development of popular education materials Filed reports and position papers to City, County, State and Federal officials demanding re-routing of Union Pacific Received extensive media coverage of protests and demands Placed 60 Re-Route signs in the South-Town Community and gathered the support of local businness Met with public officials Gave testimony at Town Hall Meeting and Congressional public hearing Collected over 600 signatures on a resolution to Re-route Pressured officials to fix the bridge and sidewalks damaged by a derailment Working in collaboration with San Antonio Independent School District to improve emergency evacuation plans for school located near a railroad. 6