(The following story by Max B. Baker appeared on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram website on February 26.)
FORT WORTH, Texas — Operation of a railroad tie treatment plant in south central Texas has not lead to unsafe concentration of toxins and other contaminants in local schools, according to a study prepared by the Texas A&M University School of Rural Public Health.
Superintendent Charles Camarillo said in a prepared statement that the study, done at various levels in all of the Somerville schools, from floors to the attics, found that their facilities are largely free of dangerous levels of toxins.
The study was commissioned by the district after hundreds of residents claimed the plant made them sick in lawsuits filed against the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Koppers, the facility’s current and former owners.
“Appropriate cleaning of floors and other areas where human exposure can occur have contributed to this environment,” Camarillo said. “This being said, (the district) aims to go the extra mile in ensuring the safety of its students and staff.”
Toxic concentrations were found to be the highest in school attics, so access to those areas will be blocked, he said. Camarillo also said he will ask the school board to consider ways to clean up those areas when schools are not in session.
Camarillo also cautioned that the study only looked at existing conditions and did not study anyone’s exposure over the years.
Suann Lundsberg, a spokeswoman for the Fort Worth-based railroad, said the findings in the A&M report mirrors the results from an earlier study paid for by the railroad and Koppers on 14 residences, six schools and five homes in surrounding communities.
“We support the findings and we really do hope it brings the residents of Somerville piece of mind and end the unfounded allegations and rumors dividing the community,” Lundsberg said.
Koppers officials have not seen the report and would not comment on its specific findings, but they said the plant maintains strict environmental standards.
“Koppers strongly believes that our Somerville operations have not adversely impacted the health or environment of the community, including those school buildings that were tested,” said Dave Shaw, the Somerville plant manager.
Earlier this month, a Tarrant County jury ruled in favor of the railroad that toxic chemicals used at the plant were not responsible for causing a woman’s stomach cancer. Attorneys for the plaintiff, Linda Faust, did not return phone calls seeking comment Tuesday.
BNSF, which sold the tie plant in 1995, faces lawsuits from hundreds of other people who blame the plant not only for property damage but also for various cancers and birth defects.