Pollution Suit Against Montana Rail Company Heads to Court

Livingston’s lawsuit against a railway company over rail yard pollution appears to be headed to trial.

City leaders and several of the approximately 145 residents involved in the dispute met with Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Corp. officials Monday and Tuesday. They could not agree to a settlement to the lawsuit that the city joined in 2007.

The Livingston Enterprise reports the city seeks to have the railroad address pollution from rail yards that BNSF operated for years in northeast Livingston. Montana Rail Link currently operates on the property.

City Manager Ed Meece says the case will likely go to trial in October in Great Falls.

BNSF operates cargo rail lines across Montana.