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Stillwater Train Derailment

 
Site Contact:
Joyel Dhieux
OSC

(dhieux.joyel@epa.gov)

Site Location:
Reed Point, MT 59069
 response.epa.gov/stillwatertrainderailment
NRC#: 1371080

Site Update.

Emergency Response Complete

Unified Command completed the Phase 2 assessment on June 21, 2024. The goal of the assessment was to see if actionable asphalt would be exposed following winter low flow and spring runoff conditions. (Actionable asphalt was defined as deposits that are 15cm or larger when on sand and 50cm or larger when on pebble.) The Phase 2 assessment covered more than 60 zones over 95 river miles. While some asphalt was observed and collected during the Phase 2 assessment, the crews did not observe any area with significant amounts of actionable asphalt. 

Based on observations during the Phase 2 assessment, Unified Command has concluded the emergency response phase is complete as of June 30, 2024. The Stillwater Train Derailment Site has transitioned to recovery. On behalf of the trustee of the state of Montana’s natural resources and the Governor, the Natural Resource Damage Program is assessing natural resource damages from the spilled asphalt. 

Asphalt cleanup will be conducted by Montana Rail Link as they receive notifications of observed asphalt. To report observed actionable asphalt material in the Yellowstone River or on the riverbank, please email the GPS coordinates and any photos of the riverbank location to: rpderailment@mtrail.com.

Site Background
  • On June 24, 2023, EPA received a report of a rail car incident located near Reed Point, MT, approximately 40 miles west of Billings, MT. Montana Rail Link reported the Twin Bridges bridge collapse. The rail line included 55 total cars; 17 cars were derailed. The 17 affected rail cars contained sodium hydrosulfide, asphalt liquified petroleum, molten sulfur, and scrap metal. 10 cars entered the Yellowstone River under the Twin Bridges bridge. The sodium hydrosulfide cars did not enter the river.
  • Representatives from the Montana Dept. of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), local Law Enforcement, Fire Department, Fish & Wildlife Services (FWS) and Montana Disaster & Emergency Services (DES) arrived on scene. EPA deployed an On Scene Coordinator, along with technical (START) contractors who provided additional support and helped coordinate environmental assessment and response activities with State and local officials.
  • Notifications to downstream public water supplies were made. There were no known threats to public health and public water supplies monitored the situation. Irrigation ditch users were also notified.


Contractors preparing to transload (remove) product from impacted railcar (in river) to haul-away railcar (on tracks). View from the west bank. Contractor running hose between haul-away railcar (on tracks) and impacted rail car (in river, not in view) to transload product for removal. View from west bank. Contractor running hose between haul-away railcar (on tracks, not in view) and impacted rail car (in river) to transload product for removal. View from west bank. Safety team on standby in boat downstream while work occurs above and near the water. View from west bank. Air monitoring instrument, AreaRAE, shown at an air monitoring location on west bank of derailment site. One derailed car of sodium hydrosulfide. Haul-away railcar stationed on tracks above to receive transloaded product for removal. View from west bank. Contractor removing debris from derailment on west bank. Haul-away rail cars placed on track to receive transloaded product from derailed car of sodium hydrosulfide on west bank. Construction of staging platform near derailment site for heavy equipment to access sodium hydrosulfide rail car. Photo facing east on west bank of river. Setting up pump system to transload sodium hydrosulfide from derailed car into haul-away rail cars on the tracks. West side of river. Transloading of sodium hydrosulfide from derailed car into haul-away rail cars on the tracks. West side of river. Completed staging area completed for heavy equipment access. View from west bank. Contractor hooking up to impacted rail car for removal. View from west bank. Contractor removing impacted railcar from bridge. View from west bank. Impacted sodium hydrosulfide railcar removed from bridge. View from west bank. Impacted sodium hydrosulfide railcar moved from track to temporary waiting area until removal from site. View from west bank. Construction of a temporary causeway to allow heavy equipment to access impacted railcars on bridge or in water. View from west bank. Sprint replacing fiber optic line with support from Rocky Mountain Construction Inc. View from west bank looking downstream. Contractor hooking up to impacted railcar containing asphalt liquid petroleum for removal from water/bridge. View from west bank. Contractor removing impacted railcar from water. View from west bank. Secondary containment for impacted sodium hydrosulfide and liquid asphalt petroleum railcars until final removal from site. View from west bank. Bridge status after removal of one impacted railcar from bridge/water. View from west bank. Rigging up to the bridge to pull it off of the pier. View from west bank. Laying down riprap to stabilize temporary causeway/platform for heavy equipment. View from west bank. Extending causeway/platform to allow heavy equipment access to impacted railcars. View from west bank. West section of bridge removed. View from west bank. Bridge removed from western pier. View from west bank. Rail line removed west of bridge. View from west bank. Resurfacing west of bridge to lay down new rail. View from west bank. Removing liquid asphalt petroleum railcar. View from west bank. Building the temporary causeway for heavy equipment access. View from west bank. Liquid asphalt petroleum rail car added to temporary waiting area until removal from site. Putting crane with basket attached onto temporary causeway to inspect remaining rail cars in the water. View from west bank. Building temporary causeway for heavy equipment access. View from west bank. Rail cars set up to be transloaded with liquid asphalt petroleum. View from west bank. Berm readjusted to contain releases in temporary waiting area. Putting crane with basket attached onto causeway to inspect remaining rail cars in the water. View from west bank. Patrick construction rigging up to liquid asphalt petroleum rail car for removal Patrick construction rigging up to liquid asphalt petroleum rail car Patrick construction removing liquid asphalt petroleum rail car from river. Moving liquid asphalt petroleum rail car from riverbank into secondary containment (not pictured). Patrick construction moving liquid asphalt petroleum rail car to secondary containment Patrick construction rigging up to debris from the bridge for removal Liquid asphalt petroleum rail car with secondary containment in temporary storage area until final disposal. Patrick construction removing liquid asphalt petroleum rail car Patrick construction driving a test pile for new bridge construction. Dumping riprap to extend causeway Molten sulfur rail car with into secondary containment in temporary storage area until final disposal. CTEH investigating sulfur odors from recently pulled molten sulfur rail car Patrick construction excavator attempting to remove liquid asphalt petroleum rail car Railroad ties float down river as rail car is extracted Metal debris flows downstream as rail car is extracted Patrick construction crew removing liquid asphalt petroleum rail car from water into secondary containment Patrick construction begins removing bridge debris from river Liquid asphalt petroleum rail car is placed in secondary containment Patrick construction moving large piece of girder Patrick construction attempts to remove debris from molten sulphur car Patrick construction attempts to cut metal truss for easier removal of debris Leaking asphalt discovered in secondary containment and Olympus is unable to plug the hole. Building higher berm for containment. Patrick construction removing pieces of girder Patrick construction removing pieces of girder Heavy leak into secondary containment Heavy leak into secondary containment Construction of the causeway continues and allows excavators to reach debris farther across the river Pieces of the bridge that have been removed from the river are temporarily staged off of the bank of the river. Excavator is staged on causeway close enough to reach molten sulphur rail car and bridge debris Patrick construction begins attempting to remove molten sulphur rail car Patrick Construction pulls rail car out of thr river. Rail car is transported to secondary containment Rail car is staged in secondary confinement Patrick Construction begins attempting to pull the next rail car from the river Patrick construction attempting to remove rail car from water Patrick construction rigging up to rail car for removal Patrick construction removing rail car from water Liquid asphalt petroleum rail car in secondary containment Patrick construction attempting to remove molten sulfur rail car Construction of the causeway continues Patrick Construction attempts to manipulate debris for easier removal Patrick Construction attempts to position rail car for removal Patrick construction removing scrap metal from hopper rail car, some cargo being spilt into river Patrick construction removing large part of truss Ballard rigging up to liquid asphalt car for removal AreaRae site photo AreaRae site photo Patrick construction attempting to remove liquid asphalt petroleum rail car from bridge Patrick Construction making another attempt to remove the liquid asphalt petroleum rail car that had been hanging off of the bridge Liquid asphalt petroleum rail car that had been hanging off of the bridge is successfully pulled out of the water Liquid asphalt petroleum rail car is removed from the water Liquid asphalt petroleum rail car is removed from the water Liquid asphalt petroleum rail car is moved into secondary containment Pile of pieces of truss and hopper rail car that contained metal scraps Patrick Construction attempts to pull molten sulphur rail car from the river Patrick Construction pulls molten sulphur rail car from river Molten sulphur rail car being transported to secondary containment Recently removed molten sulphur rail car being staged in secondary containment Recently removed molten sulphur rail car is staged in secondary containment Construction of the causeway continues to extend farther across the river Yellow pieces of sulfur are removed from the river Construction of a landing pad begins. All removed rail cars will be transported here when construction is finished. Patrick Construction attempts to move large bridge truss Ballard crew is transferred to bridge truss for rigging RAT survey site one, mile 110. No product found. Patrick Construction atrempts to lift bridge truss Additional containment measures are implemented for leaking rail cars Berms are built up to contain leaks in the temporary holding area Debris from the bridge is cut into pieces and temporarily stored on the west bank of the river Remainder of the hopper rail car is pulled from the river Hopper rail car being transported to the west bank Patrick Construction continues to pull large pieces of bridge debris from the river Hopper rail car is temporarily placed with the bridge debris on the west bank of the river Patrick Construction uses sheers attachment on track hoe to cut bridge debris into pieces AreaRae monitoring the air on the east side of the bridge AreaRae monitoring the air near temporary waiting area Rail car axles are transported to a temporary waiting area as they are pulled out of the river Large section of bridge has been removed from the water and placed in a temporary waiting area Patrick Construction continues to pull large pieces of bridge debris from the river Polaris SCAT team surveying mile 31.5 division A Petroleum product on sand Petroleum product clings to vegetation Ops teams begin removing petroleum product from the banks of the river Petroleum product on the banks of the Yellowstone River Polaris marking out clean up location In mile 30.5 mid channel 1121: mile 105, site 3, waypoint .073, very small amount of product found No observable effects from the derailment are observed on some stretches of shoreline on the Yellowstone river SCAT teams are identifying, quantifying, and mapping petroleum patties for the ops teams to remediate WRI escorts SCAT teams on the river SCAT surveys are conducted on foot where accessible, and by boat in areas that are inaccessible Healthy wildlife observed along the river No petroleum products are observed on several long stretches of shoreline Healthy wildlife is observed along the river Signs of wildlife are observed directly adjacent to large tar patties in several areas Largest tar patty observed thus far. Ops teams will soon remediate this area Ops team efforts expand, include more team members and boats to recover more product Product to be picked up by US Ecoloy Large oil mat to be cleaned up by US Ecology US Ecology picking up asphaltic product Railroad ties that have washed down the river are mapped for later removal by BNSF Tar clings to vegetation Oil flagged for clean up Large, submerged tar patty observed near the incident location. Large bird tracks can be seen directly adjacent SCAT teams survey islands directly downstream of the incident location Large tar patty with pieces of yellow sulfur is observed directly downstream of the incident location A lagre, submerged tar patty with pieces of sulfur is observed directly downstream of the incident location Large tar patches are discovered tangled with debris on the bank of the Yellowstone river Tar balls are discovered floating with railroad ties on the right bank of the river Fewer impacts are observed on the left bank of the river Healthy wildlife is observed on the banks of the river Tar patties float with railroad ties on the right bank of the river Railroad ties are mapped for later removal Sheen is observed on a stretch of riverbank near the incident site Progress of removal Approximately ten rail road ties Island that was heavily contaminated with petroleum product is cleaned and cleared Ops crew removing asphaltic material Area marked off as turtle habitat Ops teams collect mats of asphaltic material Log tie to be removed by BNSF Asphaltic material to be picked up Vegetation with asphaltic material Asphaltic material to be removed by ops crew Rail tie with asphaltic material Asphaltic material on cobble to be removed by ops crew Asphaltic material to be picked up by the ops crew Asphaltic material with sulfur attached Dead fish with no clear signs of asphaltic material, 5.5 miles down from site Staging bin for material removed from water Large mat of asphaltic material Ops crew heading to impacted areas for clean up Large mat of asphaltic material to be picked up Asphaltic material to be removed Ops crews use wagons to transport large, heavy pieces of asphaltic material Sulfur covered railroad tie is discovered downstream of the incident location Ops crew collects large mats of aspaltic material A large mat of asphaltic material lays halfway submerged in the river Ops crews work on removing the large, asphaltic mats from the rocky islands directly downstream of the incident location To remove one of the largest mats directly downstream of the bridge, the ops crew cuts the asphaltic material into manageable pieces A heavy piece of a large, asphaltic mat is placed in a bag for disposal Ops teams work on removing a large, asphaltic mat directly downstream of the incident site Cold weather allows for easier removal of the asphaltic material from the rocky shore Rail tie to be removed by BNSF Rail tie to be removed by BNSF Asphaltic material caught in vegetation Asphaltic material to be removed Asphaltic material to be removed Submerged asphaltic material SCAT team moving to next location Asphaltic material caught in vegetation Asphaltic material to be removed Morning safety meeting with SCAT, boat captains, and ops teams. Major topics are water safety and lifting practices Starting construction of new bridge Small amount of asphaltic material left on cobble after remediation Small amounts of asphaltic material left after removal ops Asphaltic material remaining on rail tie to be removed by BNSF on a later date US Ecology and Graymar ops crew removing asphaltic material from shoreline Ops follows SCAT teams to remediate small patches of asphaltic material as they are found Asphaltic material attached to vegetation Mat of asphaltic material to be removed Tree branch covered in asphaltic material Gardner snake trapped in asphaltic material, reported to wildlife officers Asphaltic material to be removed by ops crew A mat approx. 5 meters in diameter is discovered on an island 9 miles downriver from the incident location Asphaltic material to be removed by ops crew Asphaltic material attached to vegetation Asphaltic material to be removed Large mat of asphaltic material Asphaltic material to be removed by ops crews Asphaltic material to be removed Warm, asphaltic material pools on islands Asphaltic material, covered in sediment Asphaltic material to be removed Boat techs lend a hand in removing asphaltic material patches from shoreline Asphaltic material left behind by ops crew Asphaltic material and trash left by ops crew Asphaltic material left behind by ops crew large mat of asphaltic material pools beneath stranded vegetation small pieces of asphaltic material that will weather naturally in the sun Unloading asphaltic material removed by ops Asphaltic material to be removed by ops Hot spots are flagged for later removal Asphaltic material to be removed by ops Asphaltic material to be removed by ops Asphaltic material to be removed by ops Asphaltic material to be removed by ops crew SCAT team survey Mile 29 mid channel zone B Asphaltic material at Mile 29 midchannel zone C Asphaltic material found on Mile 29 midchannel zone C Asphaltic material on Mile 29 midchannel zone C Asphaltic material found at mile 29 midchannel zone C SCAT team survey mile 29 left bank zone A Asphaltic material found at mile 26.5 left bank zone A Asphaltic material found at mile 26 midchannel zone A Asphaltic material found at mile 24.5 midchannel zone A SCAT team heading to next location SCAT team safety crew standing by SCAT boats run in teams for safety purposes SCAT teams scout out islands to land on and survey SCAT team heading to next location Asphaltic material found at mile 24 mid channel zone A Asphaltic material found at mile 24 mid channel zone A Asphaltic material found at mile 24 mid channel zone A Boat operators assist SCAT teams in looking for asphaltic material asphaltic material at rivermile 23.5 Dead snake found at rivermile 23, caught in asphaltic material Asphaltic material found at mile 22.5 mid channels zone A Asphaltic material found at mile 22.5 mid channels zone A Asphaltic material found at mile 22.5 mid channel zone B Some asphaltic material is camouflaged amongst debris and rocks at rivermile 22 Asphaltic material found at mile 22.5 MC B Asphaltic material found at Mile 20.5 MC C Bags of collected asphalt material Boats bringing collected asphalt material to the Holmgren staging area Cleanup crews working 8.5 miles downstream of the incident. Crews collecting asphalt material on an island 8.5 miles downriver from the incident. Asphaltic material found at Mile 20 MC zone B Oiled snake found at mile 20 MC zone C, collected and reported to wild life Asphaltic material at rivermile 17.5 Asphaltic material found at mile 19 MC zone A Two meter long mat of asphaltic material found at mile 19 MC zone E large mat of asphaltic material found 32 miles downriver of the incident location Animal track near asphaltic material at MC mile 19 piece of a railroad tie causes a sheen in the water Animal print near product Signs of wildlife surround a patty of asphaltic material Rail tie with asphaltic material found at mile 33 MC B Asphaltic material at 35 RB zone A Submerged asphaltic material found at mile 35 right bank zone A SCAT team surveying mile 34 Asphaltic material found at 31.5 MC zone E Two asphalt cars in Temporary staging are Damaged rail car staging Damaged rail car staging area Rail car staging area. The Baker tank holds the sodium hydrosulfide and the solution generated from cleaning the two rail cars in the foreground. Airplane fuselage and rail car being lifted off the railroad tracks and moved for highway transport around the collapsed railroad bridge. The fuselage was re-railed near Reeds Point, Montana. Airline fuselage in highway transport. Airline fuselage in highway transport Airline fuselage being moved by truck around the incident site Asphaltic material located in 35 RB Zone A Large mat of asphaltic material buried in sand located in 35 RB Zone A Large amount of product found on debris in 35 RB A Asphaltic material found at mile 37 MC zone B Asphaltic material found on debris at mile 37 MC zone B Apshalt mat located in 37 RB Zone B Large amount of asphalt off shoreline of river mile 37.5 MC Zone B Visible sheen appearing on pooling water where submerged asphalt is located. Large mats of asphalt located as far down as river mile 36 Ops crew heading out to remediation sites Large mat of asphaltic material found at mile 9.5 RB zone A Large mat found at mile 9.5 RB zone A Rail ties found in side channel of mile 9 RB zone B Deer track in asphaltic material at mile 9 RB zone B Large asphaltic material mat located at river mile 40. Asphaltic product found approximately 4 feet high and on ground level at river mile 40.5 left bank zone A. Submerged asphaltic material located at river mile 40 right bank zone A. Large 2 meter asphalt mat discovered on vegetation at river mile 42 mid channel zone B. Ops crew removing asphaltic material collected my remediation crew Asphaltic material found at 12.5 deemed hot spot due to close proximity to public access Garter snake discovered along the shoreline of a river mile 43 mid channel gravel isle. Visible asphaltic material was not discovered in close vicinity of the animal. RM44 MCB large mat of asphaltic material found RM 44.5 MC zone A asphaltic material RM45 MC zone A asphaltic material Large area of asphalt submerged and on debris located at river mile 48.5 Animal tracks found in close proximity of asphalt located at river mile 48 RB-E Over 4 meter long asphalt mat located at RM48 LB - A RM45 MC zone A Asphaltic material 45 MC zone B asphaltic material RM MC zone B asphaltic material RM 45 MC zone C. asphaltic material Large asphalt mat surrounded by numerous smaller mats located at river mile 50.5 mid channel A Dispersed asphalt mats throughout debris, cobble, and sand located at river mile 51 mid channel C. Western Toad located on river mile 51.5 mid channel. RM52.5 RB zone A. Horn worms on vegetation RM52 MC zone A. island overview facing downstream RM 53 MC zone A asphaltic material on sand and cobble RM 53 MC zone B. asphaltic material found submerged offshore sand and removed Threatened northern leopard toad located at RM52 MC zone A 80cm mat located on sand at RM55.5 right bank zone B RM50 MC zone D. asphaltic material on vegetation debris and metal debris RM 49 MC zone B. Large amount of dispersed asphaltic material RM50 MC zone E. island overview looking upstream RM 54.5 LB zone A. 16 inch garter snake RM55 LB zone A. Northern leopard frog Larger than 1 meter mat obseved at river mile 57 mid channel D > 2 meter mat observed at 57 MC - D RM 55.5 MC zone A. Submerged asphaltic material RM 56.5 LB zone A. frog RM 61.5 MC zone A. large mat of asphaltic material RM 61.5 MC zone A. asphaltic material RM 63 LB zone A. Natural wildlife 1.5 meter mat of asphaltic material found on RM 70.5 MC zone A RM 68.5 MC zone D. Asphaltic material. STR hotspot RM 74.5 MC zone A. Island overview from downstream. RM 75.5 MC zone A RM 75 MC zone B. Toad. RM 75.5 MC zone B. Multiple small amounts of asphaltic material suspended in shallow water. RM 73 MC-B meter long asphaltic material. RM 74 MC zone A. Garter snake. RM 76.5 MC zone C. Asphaltic material in vegetation 5.5 ft. off ground. RM 77 MC zone B. Leopard frog on shoreline. RM 0.5 right bank zone B clears inspection Progress on new bridge construction RM 1.5 right bank zone A inspection failed Asphaltic material found near turtle habitat, RM 2.0 MC zone A inspection failed Large asphaltic material mat found at RM 2.0 MC zone A, inspection failed RM 2.5 RB zone B deemed STR due to close proximity to public access Asphaltic material found at RM 7.0 MC zone D- STR 1 meter mat found at RM 87.5 MC zone B RM 87.5 1 meter mat downstream Sheen on water at RM 88.5 down stream Asphaltic material found at RM 87 MC zone F RM 89.5 MC-B downstream on island RM 0.0 MC C material left behind by ops crew Large mat of asphaltic material found at RM 0.0 MC A, inspection failed Rail ties found at 0.0 MC zone A RM 6.5 MC-D downstream point 1 meter mat Large asphaltic material found at RM 0.5 MC A, inspection failed RM 7 MC-A downstream point multiple meter mats Pool on 7 MC-A with large mats and asphalt bubbling Large mat of asphaltic material submerged at RM 2.0 MC zone B Large submerged asphaltic material at RM 2.0 MC zone B Large mat found at RM 3.5 MC zone A, STR Asphaltic material previously submerged at RM 9.0 RB zone C Large mat of asphaltic material found at 16.5 RB zone A clearance failed RM 17 MC B failed due to large amounts of asphaltic material RM 93.5 MC zone B asphaltic material found STR RM 123 RB zone A STR Leopard frog found in shallow water. RM122 MC zone B RM128 MC zone A. Asphaltic material. RM127.5 MC zone D. Island overview looking upstream. Residual asphaltic material left on BLM land at RM 44 LB