Debris Cleared at Seacliff

The last debris from a derailed Southern Pacific freight train was cleared from the crash site Sunday and state officials prepared to reopen old Pacific Coast Highway today beneath a U.S. 101 overpass.

Air samples taken Sunday showed no trace of hydrazine vapors in the area of the wreckage, authorities said, but the site remained cordoned off and trains traveling on the reopened tracks were held to 10 m.p.h.

“There may or may not be any hazardous materials left there,” said Dennis Dickerson, regional administrator for the Department of Toxic Substances Control. His office has ordered the railroad to to check this week for lingering soil contamination.

Residents of this Ventura County oceanfront community settled back into their homes after being allowed to return Saturday after a six-day evacuation. Tourism also began to return to the sunny stretch of coastline between Ventura and Santa Barbara.

The July 28 derailment, caused by an overheated bearing and broken axle, spilled 440 gallons of liquid hydrazine, a probable carcinogen, and closed a 10-mile stretch of U.S. 101 north of Ventura for five days.