Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Ashland Rail Yard Cleanup

Update

Union Pacific Railroad has selected a contractor to implement remedial action at the Ashland Rail Yard Cleanup site. Remediation work is now scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with completion expected by early summer, based on the availability of the contractor and railcars.

Site description

The rail yard was operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company for nearly 100 years as a locomotive fueling, maintenance, and railcar repair facility near downtown Ashland until 1986. Over the past 30 years, environmental investigations of the rail yard have shown that soil and groundwater in portions of the property are contaminated with several heavy metals and petroleum products and byproducts. The contamination is at levels that may pose a health risk to people working or living on the rail yard. Union Pacific merged with Southern Pacific in 1996. Union Pacific is part of DEQ's Voluntary Cleanup Program where DEQ provides oversight to property owners and others wishing to investigate and clean up hazardous substance sites in a voluntary and cooperative manner.

Related links and documents

Contact

Margaret Oscilia
DEQ Project Manager 
503-726-6522 

Media Contact

Dylan Darling 
DEQ Public Affairs Specialist 

541-600-6119