Mendocino Railway, which operates the historic “Skunk Train” primarily as a tourist attraction, received a low-interest federal loan earlier this year to support repairs and upgrades. KZYX's Michelle Blackwell interviewed Robert Pinole, the railway president, last month about the project. Pinole said the loan was funding "crucial preliminary engineering."
In response, Peter McNamee, a respected civic activist and educator, provided a letter from the California Coastal Commission to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), detailing the potential ecological impact of the railway's proposed repairs. The Commission’s letter highlights the risk of water contamination in Pudding Creek and the Noyo River, which serves as Fort Bragg’s drinking water source. Additionally, the Noyo River Basin is a critical nursery for salmon populations.
The railway has argued that it deserves the privileges granted to carriers like Amtrak, McNamee argues it unfairly subsidizes what he describes as an “amusement ride” rather than a viable transportation service.
“When you talk about Amtrak, you're discussing a large railway system that moves significant numbers of people across the country,” McNamee said. “Mendocino Railway is a short line, mainly used for excursions. For many years, the line has not transported people or freight between Fort Bragg and Willits.” McNamee added that using taxpayer dollars to subsidize what he sees as an “entertainment experience” is inappropriate, describing the low-interest loan as a de facto subsidy.
According the Coastal Commission, the Federal Railroad Administration's approval of a $31 million to the Skunk Train does not comply with U.S. law and, specifically, the Coastal Zone Management Act. The Coastal Commission estimates that more than 7.5 tons of arsenic and 4 tons of copper could be introduced into the river basin through the installation of treated rail ties. “The rail line is proposing to install thousands of new rail ties soaked in arsenic and copper compounds, which are toxic to salmon,” McNamee said. “These chemicals can leach into drainage basins, reducing salmon populations.”
The letter called out five elements of the plan that will affect water quality:
- discharge and leaching of environmental toxins such as arsenic and copper from degraded and replacement railroad ties, power poles, and other preservative-treated wooden components
- elevated sedimentation and turbidity in Pudding Creek, Noyo River, and connected coastal waters resulting from erosion of soil disturbed by construction activities adjacent to these waterways
- deposition of air pollutants from train engine operation and subsequent discharge into coastal waters – including Pudding Creek and Noyo River – during rainfall events
- runoff of herbicides applied within rail right-of-way to control vegetation; and
- unintentional release of hazardous materials and waste such as diesel fuel, oil, municipal garbage, or other freight cargo as a result of potential derailment or construction spills.
The Mendocino Railway’s route spans areas prone to landslides and tunnel collapses, which have closed other regional rail lines, according to McNamee. “None of the rail lines in the Redwood region, from the Bay Area to Arcata, are currently operating due to landslides and tunnel closures,” he noted, adding that the Federal Railroad Administration deemed the route unsafe for trains over 25 years ago.
Despite the opposition from the Coastal Commission and environmental and civic activists, The Mendocino Railway asserts that restoring the line is essential to re-establishing transportation and excursion services between Fort Bragg and Willits. If completed, the repairs could also enable a freight hauling service, potentially reducing truck traffic on Highway 20 by a handful of trucks a day.