BALTIMORE — A state agency has cited CSX Transportation for violation of air pollution regulations in the December 2021 explosion at the railroad’s Curtis Bay Coal Piers, referring the matter to the state attorney general’s office for further action.
WJZ-TV reports the Maryland Department of the Environment claims the coal-dust explosion at the facility caused emissions “without taking reasonable precautions to prevent particulate matter from becoming airborne,” violated permits, and caused the discharge of pollutants and environmental odors.
No one was injured in the blast at the coal facility, which residents reported feeling miles away [see “Explosion damages CSX coal facility …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 30, 2021]. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Adminstration cited the railroad for violations as a result of the same incident; those violations could lead to more than $120,000 in fines [see “CSX cited for serious violations …,” News Wire, July 12, 2022].
batta boom batta bing BOOOOM!!!!!
A bit of an environmental “OOPS” (?)
CSX = “Crash, Smoke, Xplode” (?)