Some will remember that train trestle collapse near Avery Park this last January. We now have some idea of its impact. About 198.28 tons of urea pellets, an agricultural fertilizer, leaked into the Marys River. We also know negligence may have played a role.
The information came from an Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, notice dated November 25, 2025. It also included findings.
About urea’s impacts, the agency says it can pollute waters by introducing excessive nitrogen that promotes algal blooms, depletes dissolved oxygen, and disrupts aquatic ecosystems. They further explained that when urea breaks down into ammonia, it can be toxic to aquatic organisms.
The owner of the derailed train was Portland & Western Railroad. They’re based in New York state. Oregon’s DEQ, included in their notice and findings an order fining the company $81,600 for the discharge into the river.
In 2022, the same trestle caught fire, possibly as the result of propane tanks at a neighboring homeless encampment. Several folks said they’d heard explosions. At the time, Portland & Western said they had repaired the structure sufficiently to resume traffic across the trestle.
However, the state’s notice casts some doubt, saying, “Given the circumstances of this incident, DEQ is concerned about the condition and safety of Portland & Western, Inc.’s railroad crossings over water bodies. Included in Section IV is an order requiring you to submit a report to DEQ that identifies all wooden trestle bridges over water bodies in Oregon that are owned and maintained by you, and describes your process for evaluating and prioritizing repairs, modifications or replacement of wooden trestles.”
By Hallie Greenberg
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