Railroads and coal

From SourceWatch
Jump to navigation Jump to search

{{#badges: CoalSwarm}}

Rail transportation and coal-fired power generation are heavily interdependent, with railroads accounting for 70 percent of coal shipments to power plants, and coal accounting for about 20 percent of rail business.[1]

Alternative shipping methods include truck, barge, and conveyor. Truck shipping is considered uneconomical beyond 50 miles; barges are limited by the reach of navigable waterways; conveyors only work in cases where the mine is adjacent to the plant.[1]

In March 2011, America's major freight railroads said they plan to invest $12 billion in their networks in 2011, but may change their plans depending upon impending coal regulations.[2] It 2010 coal accounted for 45% of all carload traffic in the United States.[3]

BNSF Joint Line

Approximately 40% of the coal used in the United States comes from 18 immense mines in the Powder River Basin in northeastern Montana. The 103-mile “Joint Line” in Wyoming, the artery through which most Powder River Basin coal reaches the rest of the United States, is the busiest stretch of railroad in the world. The Joint Line handles over 60 loaded coal trains a day, each train more than a mile long. After it passes through the Joint Line, coal then travels over a handful of rail corridors to power plants. Most Powder River Basin coal originates with the Union Pacific Railroad or the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.[1]

In early May 2011 it was announced that Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway would impose a new tariff for coal dust suppression on its coal train fleet. The tariff came after a March 2011 ruling by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. The ruling capped a year long battle between the railroad and utilities over just who is responsible to pay for dust suppression along thousands of miles of rail used to connect the Powder River Basin to coal-fired power plants across the U.S. Coal customers will now have to pay an extra few million dollars per year to help control coal dust from loaded trains leaving Wyoming.[4] In November 2011 it was announced that the Surface Transportation Board was going to review whether or not the BNSF imposed rule to reduce coal dust on its lines was reasonable. The Board stated that the rules were “of broad interest to the industry.”[5]

DM&E Project

In 1997, the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad (DM&E), proposed in 1997 a new route into the Powder River Basin. The project would involve upgrading 600 miles of existing rail lines and building about 250 miles of new track. If completed, the DM&E project would open a new outlet for PRB coal into the Midwest, bypassing the Joint Line and the existing BNSF and UP main line rail corridors. The project has not yet secured financing. In February 2007 the Federal Railroad Administration rejected the project’s application for a $2.3 billion loan guarantee, concluding that the project was too risky to commit public funds. The project has been opposed by some landowners and towns along the proposed route, in particular by the city of Rochester, Minnesota, and the Mayo Clinic.[1]

Buffett acquires Burlington Northern

On November 3, 2009 it was announced that billionaire investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. acquired 77% of Burlington Northern Santa Fe for $34 billion, prompting the Wall Street Journal to write that Buffett is betting on the continued role of coal in the U.S. energy supply. Burlington Northern transports coal that accounts for about 10% of the total U.S. energy supply, with 90% of that mined in the Powder River Basin.[6]

Railroads accused of monopoly on coal transport

In June 2011, coal miner Oxbow Mining filed a federal antitrust complaint claiming that Union Pacific and BNSF Railway colluded with nonparties CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway to take advantage of a deregulated railroad industry by fixing freight prices for coal and other goods, driving up consumers' electric bills and imposing "broad adverse effects on the national economy." Oxbow is seeking "treble damages" for violations of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act.

According to the complaint: "Between July 2003 and June 2007, the defendants increased their market capitalization from approximately $40 billion to approximately $105 billion, or an increase of about 160 percent."

Only seven Class I railroads operate in the United States today, and Union Pacific and BNSF, along with CSX and Norfolk Southern Railroad, control the "vast majority" of freight shipments, according to Oxbow.

Congress deregulated the railroads in 1980 with the intention of introducing competition, but Oxbow says the railroads have "abused the freedoms granted them by deregulation in a number of ways, such as a fuel surcharge that is unrelated to actual fuel costs. As a direct purchaser of rail freight services, Oxbow says it has paid more than $30 million in wrongfully imposed fuel surcharges. Oxbow said the defendants also collude to raise prices by controlling where coal is shipped and the route by which it is sent, driving up the cost of coal.

Before deregulation, freight rates had to be published in tariffs filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission. The 1980 Staggers Act deregulated the industry, which allowed railroad companies to establish contracts without review by the Commission. Congress replaced the ICC in 1995 with the Surface Transportation Board, which Oxbow said had even more restricted powers to oversee shipping rates.

Oxbow said the small numbers of railroads deliberately prevent competition. For example, if Oxbow wants to ship coal from the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming, it must choose between United Pacific and BNSF, and United Pacific won't ship Oxbow coal west, so the company does not compete with BSNF customers: "As a result of defendants' anticompetitive conduct, the defendants received increased profits that were not attributable to any changes in their costs. In fact, by 2008, UP's average revenue per carload had 54.5 percent over what it was in 2004; and its overall revenues for coal shipments from Colorado/Utah increased [by] over $300 million during that period," Oxbow claimed.[7]

Oxbow Mining is part of the Oxbow Corporation, a privately-owned company founded by William I. Koch, the brother of David Koch and Charles Koch who operate Koch Industries.[8]

Citizen Action

Group Seeks to Stall Montana Coal Railroad

On July 27, 2010, the Northern Plains Resource Council asked the federal Surface Transportation Board to reconsider its approval of a proposed $550 million railroad that would open new areas of Montana's section of the Powder River Basin to coal mining. The group wants a new environmental impact study done on the railroad proposal, noting that many things have changed since the Board approved the original plan.[9]

Seattle City Council opposes coal export ports

On May 29, 2012 the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing the development of coal-export terminals in Washington state after raising concerns about increased train traffic and potential harm to health and the environment.[10]

Northwest coal train traffic could spike, foes warn

On July 11, 2012 the Western Organization of Resource Councils released a report which stated that roughly 60 coal trains per day could potentially pass through cities including Billings, Montana and Spokane, Wash. Smaller increases would be seen in Seattle, Portland and other major cities across the region.

The group contested that this could tie up rail lines, cause environmental problems and leave local governments on the hook for costly rail crossing improvements.[11]

Exports

In March 2011, president of the Association of American Railroads Ed Hamburger said U.S. coal bound for export is the most likely driver of coal shipment growth for freight railroads. The rail industry reportedly wants to keep coal a big part of the U.S. energy mix, frequently noting that revenue from coal shipments accounts for about 25% of railroads' revenue and 20% of its jobs, and opposes laws and policies antithetical to coal use. More than two-thirds of U.S. coal is shipped to its final destination by railroad every year. Hamburger expects coal shipments to increase through large East Coast ports like those in Norfolk, Virginia, which are served by CSX and Norfolk Southern. In the West, he said, BNSF and Union Pacific could use planned export terminal developments and expansions along the Pacific coast of the US and Canada. The projects, however, face steep political opposition and have yet to secure the necessary permits.[12]

International shipments of US coal are expected to grow 7.7% to 88 million short tons in 2011, according to March 2011 estimates by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Coal for steelmaking is expected to account for 68% of exports. While export coal typically provides railroads with their highest margin business, it so far accounts for a small portion -- about 7.5% -- of overall U.S. coal production, which the EIA estimated at 1.08 billion in 2010.[12]

Exports to Asia

In September 2010 Peabody Energy announced that "Coal's best days are ahead." Peabody stated that exports of coal from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming, primarly to Asia, will be central to its expansion goals, through coal exports from northwest United States ports.[13]

Union Pacific (UP) and BNSF are the two major Class I railways that operate in the coal-rich Powder River Basin. Coal trains typically employ 100-125 cars to haul Powder River Basin coal to electric utilities. The rail cars do not carry other commodities and return back to the mines empty. Coal from Powder River Basin mines in Wyoming and Montana is transported through Montana on the BNSF main line from both mines in Wyoming and Montana to Laurel, Montana. In the first six months of 2010, 3.5 million tons of coal was shipped from Powder River Basin Coal mines to Oregon and Washington for use in electrical generation and combined heat and power applications.[14]

In 2008, BNSF CEO Matt Rose said BNSF is talking to potential customers abroad about exporting Powder River Basin coal, particularly to Asia, and looking at the logistical challenges of exporting large quantities.[14]

A 2011 Western Organization of Resource Councils Report, "Exporting Powder River Basin Coal: Risks and Costs" notes that an export market of 140 million tons a year of coal would require around 60 unit trains traveling to or from the West Coast and the Powder River Basin every day: "Again, for comparison, current volume of traffic is no more than 10 unit trains per day. Nearly all of the rail line from the Powder River Basin to the West Coast would eventually need upgrades to carry additional weight or expand additional tracks to accommodate an export market of this size."[14]

The report goes on to note that "a coal export facility with the capacity to ship 20-30 million tons per year of Peabody Powder River Basin coal would result in the export of 35-53 million tons of CO2 per year. Exporting 140 million tons a year would produce roughly 280 million tons of CO2 per year."[14]

BNSF and UP invested more than $4 billion to increase capacity in recent years. BNSF laid nearly 3,000 miles of track from 2007 to 2009.[14]

Distribution of U.S. Coal

The figures below represent the amount of coal exported from state to state within the U.S. Coal that is mined throughout the United States is often exported from its state of origin to other states in the country. Primarily, this coal is transported by the nation's railroad system but this coal may also be transported by truck, river or other means not indicated below.

The table below shows the total amount of coal that is transported by rail to its state of destination. To view a further breakdown of the data, and to see how much coal is transported by means other than rail, please visit the Energy Information Administration report referenced below. The following data is from 2008 and is measured by thousand short tons per unit.[15]

Alabama

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 21,370 851 312 0 22,533
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 22,319 862 324 0 23,505

Alaska

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 0 0 0 0 0
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 0 0 0 0 0

Arizona

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 15,057 0 0 0 15,677
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 15,057 0 620 0 15,677

Arkansas

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 15,534 0 283 0 15,817
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 15,534 0 365 0 15,899

California

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 1,032 0 1,699 0 2,731
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 1,032 0 1,718 0 2,750

Colorado

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 7,298 0 0 0 7,298
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 7,811 0 0 0 7,781

Connecticut

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 658 0 0 0 658
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 658 0 0 0 658

Delaware

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 2,294 0 91 0 2,385
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 2,294 0 92 0 2,386

District of Columbia

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 0 0 0 17 17
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 0 0 0 17 17

Florida

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 11,878 0 1,035 0 12,913
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 23,735 0 1,056 0 24,791

Georgia

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 37,579 0 1,243 14 38,837
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 37,624 0 1,408 14 39,047

Idaho

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 0 0 307 0 307
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 0 0 310 9 319

Illinois

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 54,440 0 766 0 55,379
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 57,832 395 1,207 0 56,268

Indiana

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 48,927 4,266 3,167 34 56,394
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 31,091 4,862 3,504 43 39,500

Iowa

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 25,568 0 2,226 0 27,794
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 25,812 0 2,920 256 28,988

Kansas

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 21,346 0 0 0 21,346
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 21,485 0 184 0 21,579

Kentucky

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 6,358 754 35 0 7,148
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 15,274 754 284 0 16,338

Louisiana

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 11,517 0 0 0 11,517
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 11,517 0 78 0 11,596

Maryland

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 9,292 0 88 0 9,380
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 9,811 0 549 42 10,402

Massachusetts

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 595 0 59 0 653
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 837 0 60 0 897

Michigan

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 36,875 0 927 140 37,942
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 37,376 1,050 1,590 187 40,202

Minnesota

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 17,921 0 966 61 18,938
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 17,933 0 1,296 61 19,350

Mississippi

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 4,316 0 0 0 4,316
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 4,656 0 137 0 4,793

Missouri

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 44,129 0 88 0 44,217
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 44,535 0 1,024 198 45,659

Montana

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 0 0 0 0 0
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 0 0 0 11 0

Nebraska

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 14,130 0 419 0 14,548
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 14,130 0 419 0 14,548

Nevada

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 3,765 0 70 0 3,835
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 3,765 0 185 0 3,950

New Hampshire

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 586 0 0 0 586
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 586 0 0 0 586

New Jersey

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 3,162 0 0 0 3,162
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 3,162 0 0 0 3,162

New Mexico

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 0 0 0 0 0
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 0 0 0 0 0

New York

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 7,832 280 912 19 9,043
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 7,898 281 994 67 9,238

North Carolina

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 30,108 0 924 215 31,247
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 30,362 0 1,094 224 31,680

North Dakota

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 240 0 139 0 877
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 240 0 544 0 883

Ohio

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 14,556 1,831 76 50 16,514
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 41,982 1,495 1,780 184 45,498

Oklahoma

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 21,828 0 676 0 22,504
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 21,825 0 703 0 22,532

Oregon

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 2,655 0 63 0 2,717
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 2,655 0 63 0 2,717

Pennsylvania

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 5,734 283 484 0 6,501
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 11,860 4,917 2,222 32 18,800

South Carolina

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 15,309 0 992 0 16,301
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 15,309 0 1,203 14 16,527

South Dakota

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 2,467 0 0 8 2,475
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 2,497 0 202 9 2,679

Tennessee

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 18,949 0 1,828 0 20,777
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 26,743 0 2,774 102 29,619

Texas

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 63,609 0 1,519 11 65,140
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 63,609 0 1,520 11 65,141

Utah

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 2,474 0 0 0 2,474
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 2,475 0 53 0 2,528

Virginia

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 4,786 0 493 49 5,327
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 5,634 0 554 50 6,239

Washington

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 5,633 0 106 0 5,759
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 5,633 0 110 0 5,763

West Virginia

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 3,580 0 45 0 3,624
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 13,960 0 330 0 14,290

Wisconsin

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 25,368 0 1,469 96 26,933
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 25,487 0 1,680 169 27,336

Wyoming

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 0 0 1 0 1
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 0 0 28 0 27

United States Totals

Method of Transportation Totals Electricity Generation Coke Plants Industrial Plants (Except Coke) Residential and Commercial Total
Railroad Total 723,788 8,629 28,677 1,542 762,636
State Total (including other means of transportation like trucking) 1,011,895 21,013 53,989 3,449 1,090,346

Coal train accidents

July 2012: Coal train spill through Columbia River Gorge, Washington

In July 2012 a train transporting coal derailed and spilled 31 cars of coal in the Eastern Washington town of Mesa, near the Oregon border. Opponents of increased coal shipments through the Northwest pointed to the spill as an example of the risk posed by increased coal transports through the region.[16]

July 2012: Coal Train Cars Overturns in Texas

On July 4, 2012 43 rail cars operated by BNSF carrying coal overturned in the Texas town of Bell County. No one was reported injured during the incident.[17]

July 2012: Illinois coal train derailment

On July 5, 2012 a coal train derailed in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, Illinois killing two individuals who were buried inside a car under a collapsed bridge.[18][19]

July 2012: Kansas coal train derailment

On July 16, 2012 it was reported that a coal train derailed in Jefferson County, Kansas. No injuries were reported.[20]

Legislative proposals

The following are recent legislative proposals affect railroads:[1]

  • the Freight Rail Infrastructure Capacity Expansion Act of 2007 (S. 1125 and H.R. 2116)
  • the Railroad Competition and Service Improvement Act of 2007 (S. 953 and H.R. 2125)
  • the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2007 (S. 772 and H.R. 1650).

Industry Associations

Resources

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Rail Transportation of Coal to Power Plants: Reliability Issues," Congressional Research Service, September 26, 2007
  2. ↑ "US freight railroads plan to spend $12B on network" AP, March 9, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Why railroads want coal exports" Eric dePlace, High Country News, January 12, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Railroad Wins in Wyoming Coal Dust-Up" Dustin Bleizeffer, NewWest.net, May 9, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Buffett Railroad’s Coal-Dust Rules to Be Reviewed by U.S. Agency" Lisa Caruso, Bloomberg, November 22, 2011.
  6. ↑ Sioban Hughes and Mark Peters, Buffett's Burlington Bid A Bet On Coal's Continued Role, Wall Street Journal, November 3, 2009.
  7. ↑ Ryan Abbott, "Coal Companies Say Railroad Monopoly Is Driving Up Electric Bills Nationwide" Courthouse News Service, June 9, 2011.
  8. ↑ Greenpeace.org Bill Koch: the Dirty Money Behind the Cape Win Opposition, Report, Accessed February 28, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Group Seeks to Stall Mont. Coal Railroad" Matthew Brown, Associated Press, July 27, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Seattle City Council opposes coal-export ports" Phoung Lee, Associated Press, May 30, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Northwest Coal Train Traffic Could Spike, Foes Warn" Matthew Brown, Associated Press, July 11, 2012.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Exports to be biggest coal growth area for US railroads: AAR chief" Platts, March 9, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Cowlitz County approves permits to export coal to Asia from port in Longview, Wash." Scott Lean, The Oregonian, November 23, 2010.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 "Exporting Powder River Basin Coal: Risks and Costs" Western Organization of Resource Councils Report, January 2011 Report.
  15. ↑ Domestic Distribution of U.S. Coal by Destination State, Consumer, Destination and Method of Transportation" Energy Information Administration, May 2009
  16. ↑ "Loaded Coal Train Derails in Columbia River Gorge" National Wildlife Federation, July 3, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Crews Work To Clear Site Of 43-Car Derailment" Allison Ignacio, KWTX, July 4, 2012.
  18. ↑ "Two bodies found under wreckage of train derailment, bridge collapse" Kate Scott, Chicago Sun-Times, July 5, 2012.
  19. ↑ "2 bodies in car found under tons of coal in rail bridge collapse" Chicago Tribune, July 6, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Union Pacific Train Derails In Jefferson County" Wibw.com, July 15, 2012.

Related SourceWatch articles

External resources

This article is a stub. You can help by expanding it.
Retrieved from "https://dev.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Railroads_and_coal&oldid=580089"