(The following story by Justin Averette appeared on the Shelby County Reporter website on April 22.)
CHELSEA, Ala. — Train company CSX will pay almost $500,000 to replace wildlife killed after a train wreck near Chelsea in May 2006.
CSX Corporation settled April 7 with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for $491,976.
One of the company’s trains derailed on May 29, 2006, sending thousands of pounds of soybean grain into Little Creek off Liberty Road.
The grain itself usually isn’t harmful, however, so much was spilled that it sucked most of the oxygen out of the water.
CSX agreed to settle the case out of court, according to Alabama Attorney General Troy King.
The money will go to the state’s Fisheries and Wildlife Division to help pay for the investigation and to replace the lost wildlife.
“This settlement concludes months of investigation and analysis,” said Stan Cook, fresh waters fisheries chief. “Monetary damages … will be invested into conservation, protection and enhancement of Alabama’s aquatic resources.”
Jerry Moss, who works with the Alabama Fisheries Office, said the settlement was so high because endangered snails and muscles were among the species killed.
“Some of these were endangered, and that shot the value up,” said Moss. “The area has recovered some, but it’s still not back to a pristine state.”