Mosier Train Derailment, Oil Spill Anniversary Shows Progress And Problems

By Kristian Foden-Vencil

Published June 2, 2017 at 4:58 PM PDT

Saturday is the one-year anniversary of the catastrophic oil train derailment in the Columbia River Gorge town of Mosier, Oregon.

While the fire might be out, the crash still hangs over the town.

After the crash, the city, the fire department and the school district created an intergovernmental agreement to negotiate with Union Pacific, the rail company responsible for the derailment.

Mosier Mayor Arlene Burns says the agreement is almost final.

“We’re really almost about to tie it up," she said.

"We feel that Union Pacific has been responsive to sort of an off-piste style because it’s not a litigation. We’re just trying to tell them our story and who we are and what we would like them to do to make it right. And so far, they’ve been receptive," said Burns.

Burns says the town hopes for some money, a patch of land and equipment upgrades for the fire department.

She's also negotiating access across the track so the Columbia Gorge Historic Highway between Mosier and Hood River can be linked together.

Looming over all negotiations is a proposal by Tesoro Savage to build a terminal in Vancouver, Washington, that would bring up to five loaded oil trains through Mosier each day.

Washington’s Gov. Jay Inslee is poised to make a final decision on the proposal soon.

<p>Chris Hooper, right, of White Salmon watches the fire caused by a derailed oil train in Mosier, Oregon, near Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge on Friday, June 3, 2016.</p> — Chris Hooper, right, of White Salmon watches the fire caused by a derailed oil train in Mosier, Oregon, near Hood River in the Columbia River Gorge on Friday, June 3, 2016.

<p>A helicopter flies through the smoke emitted by the oil train fire in Mosier on Friday, June 3, 2016.</p> — A helicopter flies through the smoke emitted by the oil train fire in Mosier on Friday, June 3, 2016.

<p>An oil train fire rages on near the bank of the Columbia River on Friday, June 3, 2016.</p> — An oil train fire rages on near the bank of the Columbia River on Friday, June 3, 2016.

<p>A helicopter flies above the smoke emitted by the oil train fire in Mosier on Friday, June 3, 2016.</p> — A helicopter flies above the smoke emitted by the oil train fire in Mosier on Friday, June 3, 2016.

<p>Smoke from an oil train fire is seen beyond the Hood River Bridge in the Columbia River Gorge on Friday, June 3, 2016.</p> — Smoke from an oil train fire is seen beyond the Hood River Bridge in the Columbia River Gorge on Friday, June 3, 2016.

<p>Smoke and fire at the derailment in Mosier, Oregon. </p> — Smoke and fire at the derailment in Mosier, Oregon.

<p>In this photo provided by Silas Bleakley, a train towing cars full of oil sends up a plume of smoke after derailing Friday, June 3, 2016, near Mosier, Ore. The accident happened just after noon about 70 miles east of Portland. It involved eight cars filled with oil, and one was burning. Highway 84 was closed for a 23-mile stretch between The Dalles and Mosier and the radius for evacuations was a half-mile. </p> — In this photo provided by Silas Bleakley, a train towing cars full of oil sends up a plume of smoke after derailing Friday, June 3, 2016, near Mosier, Ore. The accident happened just after noon about 70 miles east of Portland. It involved eight cars filled with oil, and one was burning. Highway 84 was closed for a 23-mile stretch between The Dalles and Mosier and the radius for evacuations was a half-mile.

<p>In this photo provided by Silas Bleakley, tank cars, carrying oil, are derailed Friday, June 3, 2016, near Mosier, Ore. The accident happened just after noon about 70 miles east of Portland. It involved numerous cars filled with oil, and one was burning. Highway 84 was closed for a 23-mile stretch between The Dalles and Mosier and the radius for evacuations was a half-mile.</p> — In this photo provided by Silas Bleakley, tank cars, carrying oil, are derailed Friday, June 3, 2016, near Mosier, Ore. The accident happened just after noon about 70 miles east of Portland. It involved numerous cars filled with oil, and one was burning. Highway 84 was closed for a 23-mile stretch between The Dalles and Mosier and the radius for evacuations was a half-mile.

<p>Traffic backed up on I-84 in Hood River due to oil train derailment in Mosier.</p> — Traffic backed up on I-84 in Hood River due to oil train derailment in Mosier.

<p>Traffic backed up on I-84 in Hood River, Oregon after a train derailment near Mosier.</p> — Traffic backed up on I-84 in Hood River, Oregon after a train derailment near Mosier.

<p>In this photo provided by Silas Bleakley, a closed sign is seen outside a store as a train towing cars full of oil sends up a plume of smoke after derailing Friday, June 3, 2016, near Mosier, Ore. The accident happened just after noon about 70 miles east of Portland. It involved eight cars filled with oil, and one was burning. Highway 84 was closed for a 23-mile stretch between The Dalles and Mosier and the radius for evacuations was a half-mile. </p> — In this photo provided by Silas Bleakley, a closed sign is seen outside a store as a train towing cars full of oil sends up a plume of smoke after derailing Friday, June 3, 2016, near Mosier, Ore. The accident happened just after noon about 70 miles east of Portland. It involved eight cars filled with oil, and one was burning. Highway 84 was closed for a 23-mile stretch between The Dalles and Mosier and the radius for evacuations was a half-mile.

<p>A train carrying crude oil derailed near the city of Mosier, sparking a fire on Friday, June 3, 2016.</p> — A train carrying crude oil derailed near the city of Mosier, sparking a fire on Friday, June 3, 2016.

<p>A plume of smoke rises from where a train carrying crude oil derailed in Mosier, near Hood River, on Friday afternoon.</p> — A plume of smoke rises from where a train carrying crude oil derailed in Mosier, near Hood River, on Friday afternoon.

<p>ODOT reported the train fire shut down Interstate 84 westbound in The Dalles at mile post 87 and eastbound in Mosier at mile post 64.</p> — ODOT reported the train fire shut down Interstate 84 westbound in The Dalles at mile post 87 and eastbound in Mosier at mile post 64.

<p>Train derailment fire as seen from Coyote Wall area on Washington state Route 14.</p> — Train derailment fire as seen from Coyote Wall area on Washington state Route 14.

<p>Smoke rises from an oil train that derailed near Hood River Friday.</p> — Smoke rises from an oil train that derailed near Hood River Friday.

<p>A view of the fire from state Route 14 on the Washington side of the Columbia River.</p> — A view of the fire from state Route 14 on the Washington side of the Columbia River.

<p>Smoke rises from the train derailment near Mosier, Oregon, as seen from Washington state Route 14 between Bingen and Lyle.</p> — Smoke rises from the train derailment near Mosier, Oregon, as seen from Washington state Route 14 between Bingen and Lyle.

<p>Smoke from a trail derailment fire as seen from Washington state Route 14.</p> — Smoke from a trail derailment fire as seen from Washington state Route 14.

<p>Smoke rises from an oil train that derailed in Mosier, near Hood River, Friday.</p> — Smoke rises from an oil train that derailed in Mosier, near Hood River, Friday.