The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with Central Maine & Quebec Railway US Inc., a rail transportation company based in Bangor, Maine, over alleged Clean Water Act violations. The violations stem from fuel oil discharges into U.S. waters following two separate derailments of the company's freight train cars.
Central Maine & Quebec Railway US Inc., a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Kansas City ("Canadian Pacific"), operates under the umbrella of Canadian Pacific, which is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta and spans over 12,500 miles of track across various regions.
"Transportation companies using, storing or handling fuel oils have responsibilities to prevent spills and contamination of the environment," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This settlement highlights EPA’s commitment to protecting America’s waterways and ensures communities, including Tribal communities and the natural resources they depend on, are protected from hazardous substances that can harm human health or the environment."
The incidents occurred in October 2022 and April 2023 when Canadian Pacific freight trains derailed in La Grange, Maine, and Sandwich Academy Grant Township near Brassua, Maine. These derailments resulted in nearly 15,000 gallons of oil spilling into local waterways that flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Flood water erosion undermining railroad track beds caused these derailments. Consequently, spilled oil accumulated on shorelines and created a fuel oil sheen on surface waters. The company reported these spills to the National Response Center as required by law and has been covering environmental and emergency response costs for both areas.
As part of the settlement terms, Canadian Pacific paid a penalty of $16,544 and completed a supplemental environmental project (SEP). This SEP involved purchasing and donating emergency equipment—including an off-road response vehicle—to the local fire department that initially responded to the Sandwich Academy Grant Township incident. This equipment aims to protect both community members and their surrounding environment from future oil spills or other pollutant releases.
Oil discharged into environments can damage habitats such as wetlands and shell bed reefs; disrupt animal migration patterns; affect life cycles; impact local economies; close beaches, parks, waterways; restrict hunting and boating activities; harm public health; contaminate drinking water; devastate natural resources; produce toxic effects; pose threats to public health; disrupt economies short-term and long-term.
