Hauser, ID Refueling Facility

Above ground, locomotive fueling takes place on reinforced concrete platforms coated with an industrial seal to contain water run-off.

[3][1][2] The Hauser Refueling Facility serves as a crucial location for the BNSF railroad, covering the nation from Chicago into Canada and down the West Coast, transporting essential goods like grains, fuel, energy products, medicine, paper, and food.

[5][1][2] However, the recent wastewater spill at the facility has raised questions about the effectiveness of these protective measures, as the transfer pipes intended to carry wastewater to nearby holding tanks were not lined with impermeable material, leading to contamination of the Spokane Aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for 400,000 people in northern Idaho and northeast Washington.

[3][1] Preliminary tests showed no immediate threat to drinking water, but Washington state agencies formed a network to monitor the situation and push for more scrutiny of potential sources of contamination.

[3][1] Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Co. apologized and vowed to take measures to ensure another spill won't happen.