LIVINGSTON, Mont. (AP) The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has begun cleanup work on a decades-old underground pond of pollution at the rail yard in Livingston.

Almost a year and a half ago, Governor Schweitzer told the railroad that Montana intended to clean up the spilled diesel fuel and degreasing solvents, and bill the company for the work.

Since then BNSF has drilled dozens more wells, to locate the underground pollution. And it has built a special plant, to clean up both air and water fouled by decades of rail work.

The plant is to begin operating in October.

Railroad spokesman Gus Melonas says the company always intended to clean up the pollution, but couldn't start on the project earlier, because it was waiting for the state to sign off on cleanup plans.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 08-13-07 1102CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list