Meeting planned on Whitefish River cleanup

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host a public meeting tonight in Whitefish about the third phase of environmental cleanup on the Whitefish River.

The meeting runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Golden Agers Community Center, 121 E. Second St. in Whitefish.

Since 2009 BNSF Railway Co. has been conducting a removal action along the Whitefish River to address fuel contamination in the sediments of the Whitefish River.

This cleanup is being conducted under the authority of the Oil Pollution Act and is being overseen by the EPA. 

Phase III sediment removal work started this week and will last for approximately 18 months, with a two-month break in winter.

During this phase, BNSF will remove contaminated sediments from just below the Second Street Bridge to Spokane Avenue. BNSF expects to work down to approximately Riverside Park this year, EPA spokeswoman Jennifer Chergo said.

The cleanup technique will be different during this phase. BNSF will use a hydraulic dredge, essentially a river barge fitted with machinery, to “vacuum” up the affected sediments without the need to drain the river. 

During this time the pedestrian/bike trail will be closed from the railroad trestle to Miles Avenue, and periodically from the Second Street Bridge to Kay Beller Park.

The river will be closed to all boating and recreational activities from the rail yard to just downstream of the dredging activities.