By Derf Johnson
Anyone who’s stood next to train tracks in Montana or floated under a railroad bridge knows that coal trains pollute. Full stop. This huge, nationwide problem was the subject of a March 1 hearing with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in which citizens and environmental watchdogs across the country demanded that the EPA require more mitigation measures, such as covering coal train cars, in order to avoid coal dust pollution. The meeting was held by the EPA in response to a petition filed by the Sierra Club, MEIC, Montana Elders for a Livable Tomorrow, and several other organizations calling upon the agency to stop harmful coal pollution from open-top trains carrying coal by requiring coal train operators to obtain a permit for their water pollution.
Particulate matter from coal dust is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects, from fetal impacts and adverse birth outcomes to more frequent asthma attacks to heart attacks and strokes. Even low levels of particulate matter pollution can cause those major health impacts. In addition, coal in Montana clearly ends up in waterways as train tracks follow rivers and streams or pass over bridges. EPA did not make any commitments at the meeting and hasn’t acted on the petition, but MEIC will keep a close watch for next steps.
This article was published in the July 2024 issue of Down To Earth.
