Tribal Leaders Speak out After Train Derailment

Leaders say They Were not Notified Until Hours After the Incident

CLOQUET, Minn. – Fond du Lac tribal leaders are speaking out today after 40 cars from a BNSF coal train derailed on their reservation near Cloquet last weekend.

Tribe members are now raising concerns about not being notified fast enough about the derailment saying they did not find out about the incident until hours after it happened.

The tribe is also worried about the environmental impact the spilled coal could have on that area and question how much coal went into the Saint Louis River after the derailment.

In a statement, Burlington Northern says coal is not a hazardous material and crews will continue to clean up the scene over the next several days.