EPA settles with Maine-based rail transportation company over alleged Clean Water Act violations
BOSTON (June 12, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached an agreement with a railroad transportation company headquartered in Bangor, Maine, resolving alleged Clean Water Act violations for fuel oil discharges into waters of the United States from two separate derailments of company-owned freight train cars.
Central Maine & Quebec Railway US Inc. is a railroad transportation company and subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Kansas City ("Canadian Pacific"). Canadian Pacific, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, operates over 12,500 miles of track, spanning several networks of cities and areas.
"Transportation companies using, storing or handling fuel oils have responsibilities to prevent spills and contamination of the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This settlement highlights EPA’s commitment to protecting America’s waterways and ensures communities, including Tribal communities and the natural resources they depend on, are protected from hazardous substances that can harm human health or the environment."
On two separate occasions in October 2022 and April 2023, the Canadian Pacific freight trains derailed in La Grange, Maine, and in the Sandwich Academy Grant Township near Brassua, Maine. Both derailments resulted in a total of nearly 15,000-gallons of oil being spilled from the trains into local waterways, which ultimately flow into the Atlantic Ocean. These derailments occurred due to flood water erosion undermining railroad track beds, which led to the accumulation of spilled oil on the shoreline, and a fuel oil sheen on surface waters. The company reported the oil spills to the National Response Center as required by law and have been paying for the environmental and emergency response costs in both of these areas.
Under the terms of the settlement, Canadian Pacific paid a penalty of $16,544, in addition to completing a supplemental environmental project (SEP) in the form of an equipment donation. The SEP required the company to purchase and donate emergency equipment, including an off-road response vehicle, for the local fire department that first responded to the Sandwich Academy Grant Township derailment incident. This equipment will help protect the community and surrounding environment from any future oil spill or other release of pollutants.
Background:
Oil discharged into the environment can harm habitats such as wetlands and shell bed reef. Habitat losses may alter migration patterns and disrupt life cycles of animals. Additionally, oil discharges can have an impact to local economies and recreation. Oil spills can result in closures of beaches, parks, waterways, and recreational and commercial fisheries. There may also be restrictions on hunting and boating. As a result, local economies may be severely impacted, both in the short and long term.
Additionally, oil spills can harm animal and plant life, endanger public health, harm drinking water, devastate natural resources, and disrupt the economy. Oils have toxic properties and produce harmful physical effects and pose threats to public health and the environment.
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