Ecosystem Impacts of Increased Coal Transport Across the Northwest

Region

USGS NW Region

Robert Black (Washington Water Science Center, Tacoma, WA)

Elena Nilsen (Oregon Water Science Center, Portland, OR)

Collin Eagles-Smith (Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR)

Is Coal Transport a Potential Environmental Concern?

– Very little data/information– In 2007 finding related to transport of coal by rail

from MT and WY to western WA, Army Corps determined that transport of coal could be harmful aquatic resources

– Coal dust / spills– Recent study in WA

Recent Data Suggests Coal Dust Along Existing Washington Rail Line

Jaffe et al. 2014

Environmental Impact Statement

• 2 Lead Agencies: Army Corps and State/County– Corps: scope is limited to area around terminals and meets NEPA

regulations– State/County scope is focused around terminal for Bellingham

site, but also hopes to perform “detailed assessment of rail transportation on other representative communities in Washington and a general analysis of out-of-state rail impacts”. This meets SEPA regulations

– State/County scope for Longview site not developed – Letter from Director of Washington Department of Ecology to U.S.

Department of Transportation and U.S. Surface Transportation Board has specifically asked these groups to conduct assessments of the effects of coal on the environment along rail lines.

Public Interest in Coal Transport and Export

• Washington and Oregon - Scoping process for permitting of transfer terminals has produced ~400,000 specific comments.

• Idaho – “Coal Exports Pack a Big Carbon Punch”• Idaho – “Coal Trains Threaten Environment and Public

Health”• Montana - “Surface Transportation Board: BNSF can require

coal-dust suppression”• Montana- “Groups rally for Montana inclusion in Army

Corps' environmental assessment”• Numerous public meetings and rallies throughout the region

Currently Unanswered Questions • Are there measurable levels of coal transport related

chemicals along rail corridors in water, soil/sediment, and/or biota and do they change in relations to there location to the rail lines?

• What is spatial pattern of contamination along proposed route(s)?

• What are most vulnerable areas?– Wetlands, parks, ESA, GW/drinking water, population

• What are mechanisms of transfer, accumulation, persistence of contaminants in environment and food web?

Currently Unanswered Questions (cont.)

• How might future traffic or spills influence concentrations / distribution of contaminants?

• What is influence of hydrodynamic/sediment transport processes in distributing contaminants in riverine and coastal environments?

• What is influence of climate/land use change on hydrology/sediment transport on contaminant impact pathways?

Is Coal Transport an Environmental Concern?

• Potential Environmental Contaminants Associated with Coal – PAHs (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)– Mercury– Chromium– Selenium– Lead– Arsenic

• Nervous system damage, impaired reproduction, cardiovascular issues, urinary tract and lung cancers

• Coal dust during transport– Each train car can loose up to 500 pounds of coal dust– 120 cars per train– ~60,000 lbs of coal dust lost per train– 28-30 times increase in coal train traffic

Aquatic Resources Adjacent to Rail Lines

Wetlands Public LandsWetlands

Provisional WetlandsPublic Lands

Exposure of Aquatic Resources to Coal Transport

Proposed Coal Terminals, Rail Lines and National Wildlife Refuges

Rail linesProposed coal terminal

Ridgefield NWR

Steigerwald NWR

Pierce NWR

McNary NWR

Columbia NWR

Turnbull NWR53 mil Tons

~8 mil Tons

49 mil Tons

5 mil Tons

Horsethief SP

Questions and Methods• Are there measurable levels of coal transport related chemicals

along rail corridors in water, soil/sediment and/or biota and do they change in relations to there location to the rail lines? – Soil/sediment – Biota (Fish and insects)

• Established methods-focus on Hg and PAH• Levels of concern (chronic vs. acute) for targeted

contaminants • Hg source fingerprinting (Hg stable isotopes)• PAH from dust vs. combustion (forensic ratios)

Study DesignCurrent Coal Rail Line

CoalLoading

CoalTerminal(Canada)

Wetland/lake

Sample Point :SedimentTissue (insects, fish)

Columbia River

Horsethief

Steigerwald

Methods-Focus on Hg and PAH-Levels of suspected concern -Hg source fingerprinting (Hg stable isotopes)-PAH from dust vs. combustion (forensic ratios)

Methylmercury is produced by some bacterial groups found in the environment…

Inorganic

HgSO4/Fe-reducing

Bacteria Methyl

Hg

How Is Methylmercury Created?

PAH Isomer Ratios

Kumar et al. (2012)

FishSedimentInverts

FishSedimentInverts

Horsethief Lake Sampling Locations

FishSedimentInverts

FishSedimentInverts

Steigerwald Refuge Sampling Locations

Sediment Sampling

Target: Fine sediment (silt)

Invertebrate Sampling

Target: Dragonfly Damselfly

Fish Sampling

Target: Insect eating fish-Trout-Bass-Pumpkinseed

Project Status

• Field work complete• Samples have been sent to their

respective labs• USGS National Water Quality Lab• Krabbenhoft mercury lab • USGS-FRESC Corvallis• NOAA

Conclusion

• Current study is a pilot study• Approach and methods development• Not intended to be definitive

• Future work being pursued:• Location and extent of vulnerable aquatic resources due to dust AND

potential spills (aquifers, drinking water, ecosystems)• Hydrologic transport mechanisms• Spatial factors that may influence potential impacts

• Weather• Point along rail corridor• Train speed

• Ecological impacts• Transfer, accumulation, persistence of contaminants in environment and food web• Ecological health

Continued Outreach and Collaboration

• NOAA• All States – WA Department of Ecology• US Fish and Wildlife Service• University of Washington - Bothel• Tribes• Army Corps • US Department of Transportation• Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission• Columbia River Toxics Reduction Strategy

Workgroup

Questions?

Contacts:Bob Black rwblack@usgs.gov (253) 552-1687