Potential Hazmat Spill: Bridge Collapse Causes Freight Train to Dunk Asphalt, Sulfur Into Yellowstone River

As a result of the Saturday bridge collapse, a passing freight train was derailed and dumped the asphalt and sulfur it was hauling into the Yellowstone River, which some officials say could be a potential hazmat spill.

Potential Hazmat Spill: Hot Asphalt and Molten Sulfur

According to Stillwater County Disaster and Emergency Services, the railway carriages were transporting molten sulfur and hot asphalt. After the 6 AM mishap, authorities shut down drinking water intakes while they assessed the threat. A correspondent for the Associated Press saw a yellow liquid emerge from some of the tank carriages.

The county's emergency services head, David Stamey, stated that there was no imminent threat to the personnel working there and that the dangerous substance was being diluted by the overflowing river. Three automobiles made of asphalt and four cars made of sulfur were in the river.

No injuries were recorded, and the train crew was unhurt, according to Andy Garland, a spokesman for Montana Rail Link. Garland said that in colder temperatures, sulfur and asphalt both quickly solidify.

There were railroad workers on the scene in Stillwater County, close to Columbus, which is located about 40 miles west of Billings. This region of the Yellowstone River Valley is sparsely inhabited and apart from Yellowstone National Park, which is located about 110 miles to the southwest and is bordered by ranches and agricultural land. Garland pledged to address any potential repercussions of the incident and to identify its root causes.

Residents in Yellowstone County were asked to conserve water after emergency procedures at water treatment facilities were put in place because of a probable hazardous incident. Since the impact of the recent, intense rains and the cause of the collapse is yet unknown, an investigation is still being conducted, Associated Press reports.

Bridge Collapse, Freight Train Plunge, Internet Disconnection

Global Net, the high-speed provider, has reported that the bridge collapse not only caused significant damage to the physical structure but also resulted in the disruption of a fiber-optic connection. This connection was essential for multiple consumers in the state, as it facilitated their internet connectivity.

The main fiber route across Montana is affected, according to a recorded announcement on Saturday. All clients of Global Net are impacted by this. There will be no or very sluggish connectivity.

Devastating floods struck Yellowstone in 2022, leaving the national park and adjacent Montana communities significantly damaged. The association between repeated years of high river flows and the most likely cause was noted by Robert Beaa retired engineering professor at UC Berkeley, who is known for researching catastrophic events.

Bea claims that the powerful water flow places a great deal of strain on the pier and riverbed, potentially causing foundation instability and erosion. The Twin Bridges, which included a highway bridge and a train bridge, were in danger; the highway bridge would have to be demolished in 2021 owing to an impending collapse. Investigators examined bridge components, maintenance logs, and inspections for indications of wear, corrosion, or neglect because the construction of the railroad bridge and inspection histories were unknown.

Officials from the Federal Railroad Administration were on the site assisting the local authorities.

Investigations

The agency has asked the owner for a copy of the latest bridge inspection reports, stressing that the owner must conduct inspections, and will carefully evaluate the data as part of the inquiry for conformity to federal Bridge Safety Standards.

To stop the contents of the tank cars from spilling into neighboring fields, Kelly Hitchcock of the Columbus Water Users cut off the river flow into an irrigation ditch located downstream from the fallen bridge. According to Hitchcock, on Saturday morning, the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office phoned the group to alert them about the collapse, News Channel 8 reports

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, sulfur is an ingredient frequently used as a fertilizer, pesticide, fungicide, and rodenticide.