YORK, Pa. -- Too many people had too many questions, according to the York Daily Record.
That's what Congressman Todd Platts said about a project to upgrade a rail line that runs through parts of York and Adams counties. Residents and local officials wanted to know if CSX Transportation was improving the lines so it could ship more hazardous material through the area.
Platts, R-York County, and Democratic Senators Robert P. Casey Jr. and Arlen Specter sent a letter, dated June 15, to CSX Transportation CEO Michael Ward asking for a clear answer to the questions.
Municipal officials are concerned because of new federal regulations that require rail companies to find routes that pose the least risk in the event of an accident or terrorist attack. The line -- running from Gettysburg to Hanover, then south to Maryland -- would seem to fit the description.
"If (the upgrades are) related to the transportation of hazardous materials, lets make sure the emergency responders have this information so if there's ever a need, they're prepared," Platts said.
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."
If that's the case, Platts said, it's still worth getting local officials and CSX representatives in the same room so they can discuss how they can better help one another, especially if there should be a future increase in hazardous waste hauling.
Platts said he expects to hear from the rail company soon.
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," the lawmakers 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.
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.
(The preceding article by Joe Deinlein was published June 19, 2009, by the York Daily Record.)
