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BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad recently agreed to pay a total of $985,000 in cleanup costs at the Brown & Bryant Superfund site in Arvin, Calif., per a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Settlement funds will be used to relocate a drinking water well, which is located about 1,500 feet from the Superfund site. The EPA is working with the Arvin Community Services District to determine a new location for the well.

BNSF and UP had leased land to Brown & Bryant Inc., which operated an agricultural chemicals facility at the site. A trial and appellate court agreed with the EPA that both railroads are liable as owners of the site for chemical spills associated with the facility.

On Feb. 24, the U.S. Supreme Court will hold a hearing to review the settlement agreement.