Sends Letter to EPA Seeking Answers in Response to Reports of Contaminated Fish in the Yellowstone River
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to the Biden administration after concerning reports from the Montana Fish Consumption Advisory Board of potentially contaminated fish in the Yellowstone River following the Stillwater train derailment in June.
“The Montana Fish Consumption Advisory Board, made up of members of the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS), Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) recently released a consumption advisory on all mountain whitefish caught in the Yellowstone River from Twin Bridges Road railroad bridge to the city of Laurel. Tests on whitefish caught downstream of the derailment site found phenanthrene, a member of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) chemical group… While PAHs are naturally occurring, asphalt also contains phenanthrene and could be a source of contamination and was contained in the 10 railway cars that derailed in the Yellowstone River…According to the EPA, over 215,000 pounds of asphalt has been removed so far and teams continue to work to remove more as it is found,” the letter reads.
“Given these multiple sources of possible contamination, it is imperative that the most up-to-date information is shared with the public so they are aware of exposure risks and that cleanup efforts are prioritized,” the letter continues.
The full letter is available HERE.