| Abstract |
The 80-acre Burlington Northern (Somers Plant) site is a former railroad tie treatment facility in Somers, Flathead County, Montana. Burlington Northern operated the treatment plant from 1901 to 1986 and generated wastewater primarily consisting of stream condensate containing zinc chloride and creosote, which was discharged to a lagoon south of the treatment building. Overflow from the lagoon flowed through an open drainage ditch to a pond which formed in a swamp area adjacent to the ditch, and eventually into the lake. Contaminated soil and sediment areas in addition to the drainage ditch, swamp pond, and lagoon include a drippage area along the railroad tracks where treated ties were removed from the treatment building, a slough area where treated ties were stored, and a beach area extending into Flathead Lake. Ground water in the vicinity of the lagoon and the swamp pond is also contaminated. The primary contaminants of concern affecting the soil, sediment, and ground water are organics including creosote constituents such as PAHs and phenols, and metals including zinc. |
