(The following story by Carlton Proctor appeared on the Pensacola News Journal website on March 22.)
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A dispute between CSX Transportation and the environmental nonprofit Emerald Coastkeeper Inc. over how to dispose of the Bayou Texar trestle pilings is headed to court.
The environmental group on Tuesday filed a complaint in Escambia Circuit Court seeking a temporary injunction to halt work on the project to replace the wooden trestle with a steel structure. Circuit Judge Michael Allen has not scheduled a hearing.
Larry Johnson, chairman of the group formerly known as Pensacola Gulf Coastkeepers, said the complaint was filed after a breakdown in talks with CSX about how to dispose of old wooden pilings at the mouth of the bayou.
The Jacksonville-based railroad plans to cut the creosote pilings to 2 feet below the mud line and to monitor them to ensure they do not impede navigation.
The Coastkeeper complaint, filed by Pensacola attorney Steven A. Medina, argues that creosote oils will “bleed” out of the pilings and contaminate the water flowing into and out of Bayou Texar.
“We’ve reached a point of no return,” Johnson said.
CSX, which has all necessary environmental permits, contends removing the pilings would cause more environmental harm to the bayou than cutting them off below the mud line.
Company spokesman Gary Sease in Jacksonville said the legal action “doesn’t change our position that the procedure for removing the pilings (to below the mud line) is more environmentally benign.” He said CSX “will certainly abide by any ruling” the court issues.
CSX began work last summer to replace the wooden trestle, built in the 1880s, with a structure that needs only 11 concrete support pilings. The new bridge will increase the navigable underpass used by boaters from 20 feet to 44 feet.
Johnson said the new trestle will be an improvement to the bayou’s natural flushing action.
“We agree that what they’re doing with the concrete pilings is positive,” he said.