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Montana Derailment Sends at Least 7 Freight Cars Into the Yellowstone River Montana Derailment Sends 10 Freight Cars Into the Yellowstone River
(1 day later)
At least seven cars from a freight train tumbled into the Yellowstone River in Montana on Saturday after a derailment and a bridge collapse, causing asphalt and molten sulfur cargo to spill into the water, the authorities said. Ten cars from a freight train plunged into the Yellowstone River in Montana on Saturday after a derailment and a bridge collapse, causing asphalt and molten sulfur cargo to spill into the water, the authorities said.
Officials were investigating whether the derailment or the bridge collapse happened first, as well as how much of the cargo had spread into the river. What led up to the derailment was not immediately known, officials said. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality tested the water along waterways and treatment facilities in Yellowstone and Stillwater Counties on Sunday and “found no negative impacts,” said David Stamey, the chief of emergency services in Stillwater County.
Officials were investigating whether the derailment or the bridge collapse happened first, as well as how much of the cargo had spread into the river.
What led up to the derailment was not immediately known, officials said.
The train cars, operated by Montana Rail Link, derailed around 6:45 a.m. local time as they headed west in Stillwater County, the county’s Disaster and Emergency Services Department said on Facebook.The train cars, operated by Montana Rail Link, derailed around 6:45 a.m. local time as they headed west in Stillwater County, the county’s Disaster and Emergency Services Department said on Facebook.
Andy Garland, a Montana Rail Link spokesman, said no one was injured. Mr. Garland said that two cars were carrying sodium hydro sulfate, but neither had entered the water or been breached. State officials and Montana Rail Link on Sunday were coordinating cleanup efforts, Mr. Stamey said.
Three cars of hot asphalt and four cars of molten sulfur were in the river, officials said. Both substances were described as “slow moving.” Andy Garland, a Montana Rail Link spokesman, said no one was injured. Mr. Garland said that two other cars were carrying sodium hydro sulfate but neither landed in the water or been breached.
David Stamey, the chief of emergency services in Stillwater County, said by phone that both spilled substances solidify quickly in the water. That means the potential harmful effects to the environment could be limited, especially if the spread is restricted, he said. Wendy Buckley, the president and chief executive of STARS HazMat Consulting, a firm that serves manufacturers, distributors and carriers of hazardous materials, said that the primary hazard from hot asphalt and molten sulfur was their high temperatures.
Ten rail cars in total derailed, Mr. Stamey said. The derailment happened between Reed Point and Columbus, in an area about an hour west of Billings. When hot sulfur mixes with water, it can create sulfuric acid, which can kill fish, Ms. Buckley said. But if sulfuric acid was created, it would be “extremely diluted being that it’s in a river,” so the long-term effects would be “very minimal,” she said.
Referring to the cars, the Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office said that in a “great stroke of luck, none contained oil.” Officials said there was no expected hazardous materials impact to the towns in the county. If the asphalt, a petroleum product, was in a very liquid state when it breached, it would be more likely to spread and affect the river, Ms. Buckley said. Officials said that the material was moving slowly, so the environmental effects would likely also be minimal, she said.
The Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services Department said there had been no “negative impacts” as of early Saturday afternoon. “This stuff is only hazardous because it’s really hot,” Ms. Buckley said, adding, “This is not ideal by any means, but it is not a crisis either.”
The derailment happened between Reed Point and Columbus, in an area about an hour west of Billings.
Video of the scene showed the collapsed bridge with rail cars peeking above the flowing water. It was not immediately clear when the bridge was constructed or when it was last inspected.Video of the scene showed the collapsed bridge with rail cars peeking above the flowing water. It was not immediately clear when the bridge was constructed or when it was last inspected.
Mr. Garland said Montana Rail Link was “committed to addressing any potential impacts to the area as a result of this incident and working to understand the reasons behind the accident.”Mr. Garland said Montana Rail Link was “committed to addressing any potential impacts to the area as a result of this incident and working to understand the reasons behind the accident.”
In Yellowstone County, which has about 167,000 residents, officials said they planned to shut down water intake for the time it could take for any material to pass by Billings.
Similar measures were put in place at water treatment plants in Stillwater County, where about 9,000 people live.
Officials advised residents “to be aware of the situation and prepared to act should anything change.”
The derailment in Montana came about four months after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in eastern Ohio, igniting a fire that covered the town of East Palestine in smoke. That derailment prompted concerns about residents’ health and the environment.The derailment in Montana came about four months after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in eastern Ohio, igniting a fire that covered the town of East Palestine in smoke. That derailment prompted concerns about residents’ health and the environment.