(The following story by Joe Deinlein appeared on the York Daily Record website on June 19, 2009.)
YORK, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s two U.S. senators and Congressman Todd Platts have sent a letter to the chief executive officer of a train company that some suspect might increase hazardous material rail traffic through the area.
Democratic Senators Robert P. Casey Jr. and Arlen Specter and Platts, R-York County, signed the letter, dated June 15, to CSX Transportation CEO Michael Ward. The letter states they have heard from numerous constituents and local elected officials regarding what a CSX spokesman has said is rumor.
In the letter, the lawmakers say they, too, are concerned about the track upgrades being done to the rail line that runs through areas of York and Adams counties, and say they would like a clear answer.
“Our offices have received conflicting information as to whether this is routine track maintenance or upgrades in anticipation of increased traffic of hazardous materials through the area,” the letter reads.
CSX spokesman Robert Sullivan said Thursday that Ward’s office received the letter and is in the process of drafting a response.
Sullivan maintained that the rail upgrades are part of a $1.6 billion effort nationwide by the company to improve its infrastructure. He said worries of increased traffic are just rumor.
“This maintenance is the sort of thing we do on all our lines across the system,” he said, referring to the speculation that has been swirling around the area for months. “In most instances, people are happy to hear that we are doing this kind of work, trying to keep a safe-running system.”
But it’s not just the track upgrades that are helping to fuel the rumor.
The federal Transportation Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration created new standards for rail traffic near urban areas.
Documents created in December by the PHMSA outline how the agency is requiring rail companies to assess the safety and security of each of their rail lines in regards to the transport of hazardous materials, and find routes that pose the least overall risk in the event of accidents or terrorist attacks.
CSX has until Sept. 30 to submit its safety and security assessment to the federal government.
In their letter, Casey, Specter and Platts do note that the company has little choice over whether it can haul such dangerous items. Federal law obligates CSX and other national rail companies to be the primary hauler of hazardous materials.
“We recognize the incredible responsibility this obligation carries and appreciate your ongoing commitment to safety and best practice while hauling these hazardous materials,” the lawmakers wrote.
However, they also note the danger and fear it brings to those who live in the communities through which the rail line runs. They asked that CSX be up front with what exactly is being hauled and what kind of precautions will be in place to respond to or prevent any incident.
While company officials have said publicly in the past they strive to keep the community informed, both the senators, the congressman, local elected officials and emergency responders have said they still feel in the dark.
“We urge CSX to hold a meeting with local elected officials and other community leaders, in which you share details on the track upgrades, review the potential risks associated with hazardous materials, and provide local officials the opportunity to have any of the community’s questions answered,” they wrote.
Sullivan said the response letter would address the possibility of meeting with local officials. But he also stressed the company is working to keep everyone in the loop.
“We always want to work with our local officials,” he said.