Rapid Cleanup of Coal Train Derailment in Virginia Vital to Avoid Wetland and River Contamination
Contact: Hawk Hammer, National Communications and Media Director, Hhammer@americanrivers.org
10/31/25 — American Rivers is closely monitoring the impacts from a serious train derailment in rural New Kent County, Virginia. According to news reports, as many as 53 cars carrying coal derailed this last weekend, with many seen in aerial photos having spilled into the surrounding landscape. Containment efforts for a diesel spill were also reported to be underwaay. According to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, roughly 2,000 gallons of diesel spilled in addition to 5000 tons of coal.
The derailment occurred over sensitive wetlands and very near the Chickahominy River, a James River tributary. The historic and ecologically diverse Chickahominy River provides drinking water for Newport News communities and provides habitat for fisheries, bald eagles, and oysters. To minimize chemical and physical impacts, safe and rapid recovery of spilled coal and minimized exposure to coal and coal dust will be of tremendous importance.
“We are grateful to all the first responders currently working to minimize the environmental harm from this derailment,” said Pat Calvert, Virginia conservation director for American Rivers. “There is always an inherent risk when transporting fossil fuels and other pollutants along and over rivers and wetlands, but when that risk materializes, it is imperative that full-fledged cleanups are launched to prevent significant downstream impacts.”
While this disaster occurred during the federal government shutdown, American Rivers is advocating for increased attention from local, state, and federal leaders to ensure the cleanup effort receives the emergency funding and resources needed.
Disappointingly, the federal shutdown has prevented the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) from updating its website to make information on the investigation available to the broader public.
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American Rivers is a national conservation organization working to make every river clean and healthy for people and wildlife. We combine evidence-based solutions with enduring partnerships to safeguard the 4.4 million miles of rivers and streams that are essential to our nation’s clean drinking water, extraordinary wildlife, and strength of our communities. For more than 50 years, our staff, supporters, and partners have been driven by a common belief: Life Depends on Rivers. AmericanRivers.org