BNSF buys N. Havre land

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway has bought the right to have the first opportunity to purchase at least 75 properties in North Havre since July. The railroad has already purchased 15 of those properties.

Most of the rights of first purchase involved people who had sued the railroad over contamination to groundwater and reached a settlement with the railroad in July.

The first right of first purchase was filed with the Hill County Clerk and Recorders two weeks after the settlement. A right of first purchase means that if the landowner decides to sell, the railroad gets the first chance to...