The Canadian National Railroad completed the removal of the groundwater interceptor system and restoration of the grading of the wetland in which it had been placed during the week of November 20. 

The groundwater interceptor system had been placed in the wetland to prevent any remaining oil that might be present in the track ballast from seeping into the large wetland complex immediately adjacent to the tracks. 

A train accident and derailment in November of 2001 resulted in diesel fuel and lubricants from the train being released onto the track and into the wetlands.   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has worked closely with U.S. EPA and Canadian National since the accident to minimize the size of the release, clean up the area with as little impact to the wetland as possible, and begin restoration of the area without proceeding with a formal natural resource damage assessment.  

The removal of the interceptor system follows five years of monitoring for oil and other contaminants in the groundwater.  Canadian National will monitor vegetation for the next two years to ensure that this new disturbance of the area does not result in the establishment of invasive plant species.  Abundant native species at the site are expected to re-colonize the relatively small area of recent disturbance.