The KXLY report about a Canadian firm wanting to store close to 50 loaded chlorine tanks at Belmont, WA, (due, reportedly, to terrorist concern during the Vancouver Olympics) makes me wonder a couple of things.

First, I didn't see any comment from the railroad involved. Stan, can you publicly shed any light at this time?

Second, the report claims Belmont typically holds grain hoppers. Not completely the case. Belmont has stored small and large numbers of tank cars seasonally in the past. I remember particularly the late winter/early spring of 2005 when Belmont's storage tracks were stuffed to capacity with tanks. Presumably ammonia cars for fertilizer production, but I can't say for sure.

Third, the plan to turn the site into a fenced, guarded facility, right alongside one of the nicer roads to drive on in the Palouse, is bound to draw protest, as well as some acceptance from those looking for any source of income for the depressed local economy. Surely there are more suitable sites, with existing storage capacity, capable of being fenced and secured without creating a public eyesore, whether on the Palouse or elsewhere.

If this storage is just for the duration of the Olympics, hopefully the fence and tanks would eventually be gone and Belmont would go back to being the quaint, photogenic little elevator hamlet it's always been.