State and federal environmental officials want Union Pacific Railroad to pay more than $200,000 for mishandling asbestos a few years ago.
The company and government lawyers have agreed on a settlement that has the Omaha-based railroad company paying a judgment of $200,000 and investigation costs of $28,202. The deal needs the approval of a U.S. District Court judge.
"We feel this is the best resolution you can have in a situation like this," said Zoe Richmond, a spokeswoman for Union Pacific.
The case arose after Union Pacific removed at least 13 metal signal sheds along a rail line in 2005 and had Western Metals Recycling of western Salt Lake City shred all but one of them. In the last one, 123 square feet of chrysolite asbestos was discovered.
Handling asbestos is covered by the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. The Utah Division of Air Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that the law had been violated.
Richmond said no one was harmed and that the company has updated its signal shed-demolition policy.
No court date has been set yet for a judge to review the settlement.
