Fossil Fuels by Rail
Coal and oil shipments through North Idaho
Daily rail shipments through N. Idaho
coal and oil trains
4 coal
trains now
1 oil train now
This fact sheet shares a few important statistics, and
highlights the risks these proposals could bring to our
communities.
22 proposed oil
trains
A no-win for North Idaho
Rail shipments of coal and crude oil pose inherent longterm risks to North Idaho, including chronic pollution
from coal, coal dust and diesel exhaust. These shipments
could also bring major threats to our environment, health
and well-being if accidental derailments, spills or
explosions occur.
If the number of daily fossil fuel shipments increases, the
risk of chronic pollution will also increase. Coal dust, coal
fragments and diesel exhaust from the train’s engines can
deposit toxic pollutants into the air and water which build
up and accumulate over time.
Increased rail traffic also threatens our safety, delays
emergency response and harms our local economy. If a
spill occurred over our deltas or other recreational
waterways, its residues would persist in the sediments for
generations to come.
Despite these significant risks to our well-being, North
Idaho will see no economic benefit from increased
shipments of fossil fuels through its communities. In fact,
tax payers will foot the majority of the bill for upgrades
to rail crossings and other impacted infrastructure.
42 proposed coal
trains
Statistics courtesy Power Past Coal and ForestEthics
Coal and oil companies have submitted numerous
proposals that would increase the amount of coal and
volatile crude oil shipped by rail through North Idaho. If
approved, these fossil fuel shipments would more than
double our current total rail traffic.
Where do these fuels come from?
Coal and oil are mined from fossil fuel-rich basins across the
interior of the US and Canada. Coal is primarily mined in the
Powder River Basin of MT and WY, while crude oil comes
from the Bakken Oil Fields of ND and MT.
Where is the coal and oil going?
Once mined, coal and crude oil are generally transported to
the refineries and export facilities in coastal WA and OR. To
get there, these fuels must travel by rail through North
Idaho’s rail-side communities, such as Sandpoint, Hope and
Clark Fork.
Fossil Fuels by Rail
Cumulative impacts
Understanding the impacts
If shipments of both coal and oil over our regional rail system
increase as proposed, this new rail traffic could have major
impacts on North Idaho’s communities.
Here are a few ways that increased fossil fuel shipments
could impact North Idaho; including the effects of coal
dust, diesel exhaust and doubled rail traffic.
Currently, between 50 and 60 trains travel over local rail lines
each day. If all proposed west coast export facilities and
refineries are given the green light, that number would jump to
over 100 trains daily, with 64 of those carrying coal or crude oil.
This huge volume increase could spell double trouble for public
health and safety, air and water quality, our local economy and
sensitive ecosystems like the Clark Fork River Delta.
Water Quality:
Public Health and Safety:
Proposed
200
150
241
100
50
64
5
COAL AND OIL TRAINS
PER DAY
Statistics courtesy Power Past Coal and ForestEthics
250
0
Sensitive Ecosystems:
 Mortality of important native fish species
 Less diversity of fish species, bugs and plants
IMPACT OF COAL AND OIL
PROPOSALS
Current
 Increased salinity and decreased water clarity
 Accumulation of pollutants and toxins like lead,
mercury, arsenic and dangerous hydrocarbons
 Over-all reduction in water quality
 Poorer air quality due to coal dust and toxins in
diesel exhaust
 Threats to drinking water safety from dissolved
toxins
 Increased risk of accidents
Traffic and Infrastructure:
 Increase from 18 to 241 minutes* (4 hrs) of
crossing closures daily *Statistics courtesy ForestEthics
 Delayed emergency response due to increased
crossing closures
 Taxpayer burden to improve at-grade crossings
Economy:
 Lower quality of life due to doubled train volume
 Risk of catastrophic disaster like oil spill or
explosion
Global Climate:
18
MINUTES OF CROSSING
CLOSURES DAILY
 53.2 billion tons* of carbon released from
Bakken crude oil and Powder River Basin coal.
(US annual carbon release is 5.4 billion tons)
*Statistics courtesy ForestEthics
Lake Pend Oreille WATERKEEPER® advocates for broad environmental reviews that study all of these potential
risks, strict federal safety regulations for oil tank cars and train speeds, as well as comprehensive emergency
response plans to address potential derailments of coal and oil trains. Our goal is to ensure that our watershed
and its communities have a voice in determining whether proposed west coast facilities are permitted.
Contact LPOW: PO Box 732 . Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 . www.LPOW.org . 208.597.7188