NAN Calls for Coordinated Effort After Second Derailment near Mattagami First Nation

Press Releases

March 8, 2015

THUNDER BAY: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Harvey Yesno is calling for a coordinated effort from Canadian National Railway and the federal and provincial governments following the second major train derailment near Mattagami First Nation in recent weeks that is threatening air and water quality for the community.

“The Chief and Council of Mattagami First Nation were already struggling to deal with the impacts of the first derailment and now they are faced with what appears to be an even more devastating incident,” said NAN Grand Chief Harvey Yesno. “This besieged community needs immediate resources to monitor the impacts of both of these disasters, and we are calling on CN Rail and the appropriate federal and provincial ministries and agencies to coordinate and cooperate with the community in all aspects of the emergency response and make all required resources available immediately.”

The latest derailment occurred early Saturday morning as a reported 10 rail cars carrying crude oil apparently left the tracks, some reportedly catching fire and entering the Mattagami River system. No injuries were reported, but residents of Mattagami First Nation were advised to remain indoors due to smoke from several burning rail cars.

“The community’s water supply is not being used for personal consumption as a precautionary measure due to the oil and smoke that is threatening their water reservoir and the river system,” said Yesno. “Chief and Council have requested instrumentation from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Transport Canada so they can conduct their own independent air quality monitoring. They are also in need of resources so they can access independent expert advice on all aspects of the emergency response and measure all environmental impacts. We fully expect that these requests will be met.”

Last month, crude oil from several rail cars spilled into the same waterway when a CN freight train derailed approximately 50 kilometres from yesterday’s derailment. The February 14 derailment remains under investigation and is being monitored by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Health Canada.

For more information please contact: Michael Heintzman, Director of Communications – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (807) 625-4965 or (807) 621-2790 mobile or by email mheintzman@nan.on.ca

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