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NPL Site Narrative for Union Pacific Railroad Co.
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO.
Pocatello, Idaho
Federal Register Notice: September 21, 1984Conditions at listing (September 1983): For an unknown number of years, Union Pacific Railroad Co. has dumped sludge from its oil/water separation plant into what appears to be a 150-foot by 40-foot unlined man-made pond, in Pocatello, Idaho. The 0.5-acre pond is just north of Union Pacific's West Pocatello Railroad Yard, which covers a few hundred acres. For some time, Union Pacific has said it plans to construct a sludge-thickening facility to replace the pond. Several years ago, Union Pacific also treated rail ties, probably with pentachlorophenol (PCP), at an unknown location in the yard.
In 1980, the State sampled wells in the vicinity, detecting PCP in parts per trillion, and oils and grease in parts per million (ppm). PCBs were not detected. In March 1983, EPA found 9 ppm PCP in the sludge in the pond and 4.5 ppm in the liquid. These levels are considered a potential source of ground water contamination, but to date no PCP has been found in drinking water samples. Samples collected at the same time from private wells adjacent to the site were contaminated with PCBs. Additional information is needed to further evaluate the yard's contribution, if any, to soil and ground water contamination.
Status (June 1984): Any actions to be taken at this site will be coordinated with actions at Pacific Hide & Fur Recycling Co., which is adjacent.
For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.