Train Derailment Spills Coal Into Feather River

Derailed railroad cars in the Feather River. Photo by OSPR.

PLUMAS COUNTY — According to a report made by Union Pacific Railroad to the California Office of Emergency Services, a train fully loaded with coal derailed on Sunday, February 11th, spilling approximately 1,235 tons of coal around and into the Feather River near Blairsden. Each fully loaded railroad car carried 118 tons of coal, a number mistakenly reported by many media outlets as the total for the entire train. Fifteen fully loaded cars were derailed, with thirteen releasing coal.

Union Pacific reported that the cause of the derailment was a track defect and that there were no injuries, fatalities, evacuations, or fires. However, at least one railcar toppled into the river, and cleanup costs are expected to exceed $150,000. The California Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) made a Facebook post on Sunday notifying the public that it had a crew on-site and released images of the derailed cars. OSPR does not expect the spill to significantly increase the toxicity of the river in the short term, but biologists are assessing further impacts. Cleanup efforts remain underway.