Cleanup on Whitefish River ready to begin

Cleanup efforts on the Whitefish River will begin this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced.

The EPA has ordered the removal of contaminated sediments from sections of the Whitefish River, according to a news release from the federal agency.

Sediments in certain areas of the river are contaminated with petroleum products, causing a visible sheen on the river when disturbed.

In 2007, a citizen contacted EPA to report an oily sheen on the river in multiple locations. The EPA investigated and found bunker fuel oil and weathered diesel fuel. The river is not a drinking water source for the town, but is used for recreational activities.

According to the EPA, the contamination appears to originate from the BNSF Railway fueling facility, which is located upstream from the town, adjacent to the river. Areas of contaminated sediments continue along the river for about two miles as the river flows through Whitefish.

For the rest of this story, see the print version of Monday's Inter Lake.