Council calls attention to coal train risks

SANDPOINT — City officials see a lot to lose and very little to gain when it comes to increased coal train traffic through the town.

At a Wednesday City Council meeting, members passed a resolution recognizing the risks of increased coal traffic through the area and requesting that the Army Corps of Engineers add Bonner County to an environmental impact statement. They also called for participation in an Army Corps of Engineers scoping hearing that would explore alternatives and encourage public comment.  

The council identified several key areas of concern regarding Peabody Energy and Arch Coal’s proposed increase to the number of open top coal trains that travel through Sandpoint.

Environmental worries were the most-discussed area of impact. Since the rail line runs both nearby and over Lake Pend Oreille, the dust blown from the uncovered cars combined with diesel byproducts from the locomotive itself could have a negative effect on local water quality, according to Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper executive director Shannon Williamson.

Because coal dust contains heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, selenium, nickel, copper and vanadium, Williamson said that a major increase in train traffic in the community posed a serious risk to water quality.

Other worries centered on economic, traffic management and safety issues. More trains passing through Sandpoint means more time cars spend waiting at crossings. That could result in traffic circulation issues and a lot of annoyed drivers. More serious are the delays it poses to emergency vehicles traveling toward a house fire, medical crisis or crime scene. Furthermore, increased train traffic logically brings an increased chance of train derailment. Finally, a substantial bump in coal trains could have a negative impact on local property values.

According to the resolution council members passed on Wednesday, the city is committed to partnering with the Army Corps of Engineers in determining the extent of negative impacts increased coal train traffic could bring. In addition, it calls for the development and adoption of an emergency clean-up plan in the event that a coal train should derail alongside Lake Pend Oreille.