Canadian Pacific Begins Restoring Train Derailment Site

Canadian Pacific Railway is preparing to restore the site of a January train derailment near Brownsville, Minnesota.

Canadian Pacific plans to restore the natural slope of the river bank and plant native vegetation along the site of the 15-car train derailment. The accident spilled over 650 gallons of vegetable oil into the Mississippi River, which the rail company is continuing to monitor.

Tim Miller, La Crosse district manager for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge, said the onset of spring weather brings more environmental concerns, including how the spilled oil will affect waterfowl returning to the area.

“(The oil) can cause harm to them by coating them,” Miller said. “We also were concerned over erosion from the work that was done next to the railroad track and the shoreline of the river.”

Miller said excessive runoff in the river can prevent underwater plants from completely photosynthesizing and harm some fish populations.

Canadian Pacific officials said they worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and several Minnesota agencies to develop the restoration plan to prevent erosion in the area.

Miller said the rail company has been very cooperative in addressing the refuge’s concerns. But he said train derailments in and around the Mississippi River continue to be a challenge for the refuge.

“Having railroads right around the refuge waters has been a growing concern, just from the number of derailments that we’ve had in the last couple of years,” Miller said.

Canadian Pacific estimates the project will take several months to complete.