In emails to state and federal officials, conservation organizations and individuals have outlined several concerns about long-term impacts to and monitoring of the Yellowstone River following a June 2023 train derailment that resulted in a toxic spill.
“We deserve to know the long-term impacts of the disaster on the Yellowstone River ecosystem and what is being done to mitigate and monitor those impacts,” the groups wrote. “We also deserve to know how and why this disaster happened and what is being done to ensure it doesn’t happen again, and the process for holding Montana Rail Link accountable.”
A toxic mixture of chemicals spilled into the Yellowstone River when 17 Montana Rail Link train cars left the tracks while crossing a bridge over the river near Reed Point. Ten cars fell into the river releasing an estimated 420,000 pounds of asphalt and three train car loads of molten sulfur.