State agencies are warning people not to eat mountain whitefish caught in the Yellowstone River in the area where a train carrying chemicals went off the tracks in June, according to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
The department’s staff collected five mountain whitefish and five rainbow trout below the derailment site for contaminant testing as a followup to the incident that occurred on June 24, a news release stated.
The derailment caused a bridge over the Yellowstone River to collapse, sending several cars into the water, Stillwater County officials said in June.
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Montana Rail Link said damaged rail cars had “molten sulfur and asphalt” on board, CNN previously reported.
Two cars carrying sodium hydrogen sulfate were part of the derailment, but neither landed in the river, “and initial air quality assessments have been performed and confirmed that there is no release event associated with those two cars,” the railroad said at the time.
But testing results of the mountain whitefish “showed levels of a chemical called phenanthrene high enough to warrant an advisory to avoid all consumption of mountain whitefish,” officials said Friday.
Phenanthrene is part of a group of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAH, according to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
PAHs are found in oil, gas, plastics and pesticides, and are created when these products combust, the department said.
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However, the specific source of the phenanthrene found in the mountain whitefish and whether it was a result of the derailment is not yet known, according to officials.
PAHs occur naturally in the environment, especially in the shale rock commonly found in the Yellowstone River Basin, according to the release.
The Fish Consumption Advisory Board “has issued an initial consumption advisory on all mountain whitefish caught in the Yellowstone River from Twin Bridges Road railroad bridge to Laurel,” the release read. “Further testing is needed to determine the contamination source and long-term guidance.”
The FWP said rainbow trout collected in the area did not show contamination levels and that no other species of fish, including brown trout, were collected for testing.
“Additional fisheries testing will be conducted in the area later this week,” the release read. “Fish will be collected above and below the derailment site.”
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The department advised that people with specific concerns should avoid eating any fish species from the Yellowstone River in the area until more is known about the contamination’s severity and prevalence.
“The agencies will alert the public as soon as this information is available,” the release stated.
The dangers of lead exposure for children are well known and many schools across Montana have made great strides to protect students and staff from lead in drinking water. But a number of Montana schools have not yet taken action and the possibility of lead in school drinking water continues to be a serious concern.
Children are particularly at risk because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults and the risks from lead include anemia, kidney and brain damage, as well as learning disabilities and decreased growth.
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Because children spend a large share of their childhood in schools, it is extremely important to provide safe drinking water. Some schools may not even be aware of the danger because even when water entering a building meets safety standards for lead concentrations, older plumbing within schools could contribute to elevated lead levels in the drinking water.
In Montana, testing for lead began in 2020 in accredited K-12 schools where students can get drinking water. As of April, 487 school facilities (buildings) have tested for lead out of 591 in the state, leaving 104 schools — in both large and small communities — that have not yet completed the testing.
Fortunately, funding and assistance is available to help make sure all Montana schools can first test their drinking water and then take preventative steps if needed to eliminate any dangerous levels of lead.
For testing, an EPA grant supports free sampling for lead in drinking water for any Montana school. The schools can hire someone to do the testing and invoice the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
For schools where lead tests exceed the state standard, we supported and helped pass an amendment during the 2023 Legislature that provides funding that will cover the cost of labor and supplies for new faucets, drinking fountains or water bottle filling stations. Using this state program, we can work with parents, local communities and schools to keep our schools and children safe.
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Here are the details: The Legislature approved $3.7 million for the replacement program which is available to any school that needs to upgrade its water drinking facilities. Each school building qualifies for up to $100,000 to replace water faucets, water fountains and purchase new bottle filling stations, with up to a quarter of this amount available for labor costs.
The funding should help most schools greatly improve their drinking water. According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, a bottle filling station costs roughly $2,500 and faucets run from $300-$500 each.
One of the major challenges now is to help the remaining schools test and fix their drinking water as needed. Parents, teachers and school administrators should check with Montana Department of Environmental Quality for more information, or contact any of us, to learn the status of their school and how to participate.
Lead is a danger to our children’s health, but working together we can address this problem and help ensure that our kids learn in a safe and secure environment.
Sen. Janet Ellis, D-Helena, Rep. Paul Tuss, D-Havre, Rep. Melissa Romano, D-Helena, Rep. Mark Thane, D-Missoula.
MISSOULA — The University of Montana will be hosting a career fair on campus from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4 outside UM’s new dining center on the west end of the Oval.
This campus-wide hiring event will feature over 50 career opportunities, ranging from UM Campus Dining, Athletics and UM Housing to Facility Services and more.
“UM Campus Dining provides an inclusive culture, great work-life balance and wonderful co-workers,” said Kacey Gardipee, associate director of Residential Dining. “Working for UM Campus Dining gives you and your family the best benefits in Missoula! Looking to further your culinary career? The new dining center offers seven micro-concepts showcasing cuisines from around the country and world.”
Representatives from UM Human Resource Services will provide guidance on the recruitment process and answer any questions about job openings currently listed at www.umt.edu/jobs.
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In anticipation of the grand opening this summer, UM Campus Dining, the event sponsor, is looking to fill over 24 positions across campus.
Tours of the new dining center, which will open to students and visitors in August, will be provided every hour. Available positions for UM Campus Dining include cashiers, cooks, sous chefs, dishwashers and sanitation technicians and facilities specialists.
UM is committed to “Mission First, People Always,” emphasizing teamwork and collaboration across departments to enhance its educational and work environment.
Employment at UM comes with numerous benefits, including extensive health coverage, free shift meals for Campus Dining employees, partial tuition waivers for employees or their immediate family members, a respectful and collaborative work environment that values diversity, opportunities for advancement, a commitment to safety and well-being, comprehensive retirement plans and a high standard of professionalism.
UM is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
