Diesel spills in Havre BNSF Railway yard

A diesel spill hit the Havre BNSF Railway yards Wednesday, with spokesman Ross Lane saying an estimated 100 gallons of a mix of water and diesel spilled out of its wastewater treatment plant with some going into the Milk River.

Lane said BNSF estimated the amount that went into the river in the 10s of gallons, with work to retain the spill on the river underway Wednesday and equipment in place 4 miles and 7 to 8 miles downstream to catch the leading edge of the spill.

BNSF was in contact with the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to assess the damage and work on mediating it, he said.

BNSF also was mobilizing to assess any damage to any endangered species, Lane said.

The leak was discovered Wednesday morning and had been stopped by 7:30 a.m., he said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the cause of the leak was not known, he said.

BNSF crews and contractors were on site working to clean the spill and reduce its spread in the river, Lane said.