Whitefish wells drilled to test for further pollution

Drilling began last week for monitoring wells that will test for petroleum contamination in neighborhoods next to the rail yard in Whitefish.

The city of Whitefish got nearly $50,000 in grant money from the state Department of Natural Resources and conservation and hired hydrogeologist Roger Noble of Applied Water Consulting to do the work.

Twenty-two test wells will be drilled in various areas, including a three-block area between Baker and Miles avenues and between First Street and the BNSF Railway Co. property line. Some wells will be drilled a block east of Whitefish Middle School between Kalispell and Columbia avenues.

Samples from the wells are expected to show the extent of any underground diesel and other petroleum-based pollution from the rail yard.

The test wells were prompted by concern from property owners near the rail yard, many of whom were contacted by BNSF earlier this year with offers to buy their property. That led to worries about possible decreases in property values and suspicions of pollution in areas such as the historic Railway District, where considerable development has taken place in recent years.