(The following report appeared on the Billings Gazette website on May 24.)
HELENA, Mont. — Some residential properties near Burlington Northern Santa Fe’s Helena rail yard have tested unusually high for lead in the soil, what a state official says is a public health problem.
Recent tests, mainly in residential yards, were done by the railroad on 39 parcels.
Lead occurs naturally in soil in the Helena area at about 80 parts per million.
However, 10 properties around the depot have more than 1,000 parts per million of lead in their soil, with one property showing 32,000 ppm, and two others coming in at 4,400 and 6,400 ppm.
“Clearly, this is a public health hazard,” said Aimee Reynolds of the Department of Environmental Quality’s Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Bureau.
BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas disputed that opinion.
“Based on extensive analytical data collected through our environmental investigation and human health assessment, no unacceptable public health risks have been identified,” Melonas said.
But the rail company voluntarily plans on replacing soils this summer in the yards with high lead levels.