Union Pacific headed for dispute over Las Vegas soil remediation
5/27/2009 -
Union Pacific Railroad recently agreed to contribute $5 million to a soil remediation project in Las Vegas on a 61-acre downtown site.
City officials want to build a park, performing arts center, hotels, medical research center and homes at the former rail yard. The city of Las Vegas is contributing another $5 million for remediation.
Even with $10 million, the fund could fall as much as $20 million short of the money needed to complete the remediation, Mayor Oscar Goodman said. The site is contaminated with diesel, oil, lead and arsenic after decades of use as a railroad switch yard and fueling station.
City officials are discussing the possibility of suing Union Pacific for the rest of the funding.
Union Pacific already conducted one cleanup at the site beginning in 1992 that was approved by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. However, the first cleanup met standards for commercial and industrial land.
The new project would include homes, which requires a higher standard of remediation, according to Division of Environmental Protection officials.
Contact: Jill Lufrano, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, (702) 486-2850.
City officials want to build a park, performing arts center, hotels, medical research center and homes at the former rail yard. The city of Las Vegas is contributing another $5 million for remediation.
Even with $10 million, the fund could fall as much as $20 million short of the money needed to complete the remediation, Mayor Oscar Goodman said. The site is contaminated with diesel, oil, lead and arsenic after decades of use as a railroad switch yard and fueling station.
City officials are discussing the possibility of suing Union Pacific for the rest of the funding.
Union Pacific already conducted one cleanup at the site beginning in 1992 that was approved by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. However, the first cleanup met standards for commercial and industrial land.
The new project would include homes, which requires a higher standard of remediation, according to Division of Environmental Protection officials.
Contact: Jill Lufrano, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, (702) 486-2850.
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