T&T: Wilson Lock Tennessee River

[Ken]

There was an accident this morning at Wilson Dam involving a barge carrying a
chemical.

As of yet, none of the chemical has leaked. Xylene is used to make a number of
things like paint and plastic, but it can also make for a for a volatile
situation.

The main lock at Wilson Dam on the Tennessee River as damaged, with the
lift-gate on the up-stream side of the lock lifted almost entirely out of the
water. The gate itself is now resting on the barge.

According of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the barge was heading upstream
entered the locks running the front lip of the barge underneath a portion of
the lift gate.

When the lock was filled with water....the barge lifted the gate.

Mike Ensch is in charge of the scene and expects he could be here for several
days.

"We could be here for quite a while and this is going to take a lot of work
that will likely involve the use of cranes. We're not sure how we'll do it and
get back in place but it will take a while to get it back in service," said
Ensch.

Other barges are beginning to back-up. There is an auxiliary lock that should
be in use by late today