The
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is speaking out after a train carrying coal derailed on the reservation in northern Minnesota.
Chairman Kevin DuPuis said the tribe wasn't told until about five hours after the
derailment on Saturday morning. He said Burlington Northern Santa Fe initiated a response without respecting the tribe's sovereignty.
"Because this incident occurred on reservation land, BNSF's cleanup operation is subject to the band regulatory authority, ordinances, and policies," DuPuis said in a
letter on Tuesday to the rail company.
The derailment caused coal to spill on the frozen waters of the St. Louis River. As of Tuesday morning, some train cars were still on the ice, Minnesota Public Radio reported.
"We have jurisdiction. It's within the confines of our reservation. It's within our lands. We are the lead agency and we should have been contacted," DuPuis said at a news conference that day, MPR reported.
In a statement to Wisconsin Public Radio, BNSF did not outright dispute the chairman's concerns. Instead, the rail company said it contacted 911 "within 30 minutes of the incident" and engaged in "subsequent communications" throughout the day.
"We’ve been working with the Fond du Lac leaders, providing regular briefings and safe access to the site since the derailment as our crews have been responding to the incident," the statement read.
According to The Duluth News Tribune, more than 4,000 tons of coal were dumped on the frozen river.
Read More on the Story
Fond du Lac band angry over response to coal train spill
(Minnesota Public Radio February 19, 2019)
Fond du Lac Chairman Voices Concerns Following Derailment
(WDIO February 19, 2019)
Lake Superior Tribe Criticizes Railroad Over Derailment Response
(Wisconsin Public Radio and The Associated Press February 19, 2019)
Railroad reopens as coal train derailment cleanup continues
(The Duluth News Tribune February 19, 2019)
Fond du Lac, Cloquet first responders say they weren’t notified of derailment until hours later; demand access to site
(The Duluth News Tribune February 19, 2019)
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