Curtis Bay residents demand action on coal terminal health risks

In Baltimore, Curtis Bay residents are urging the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to deny the operating permit for the CSX Transportation Coal Export Terminal due to ongoing health and environmental concerns. During a community meeting, residents expressed their distress over coal dust pollution, which they believe is contributing to respiratory issues and affecting their quality of life. Shashawnda Campbell, a local resident, highlighted the fear among families about letting their children play outside due to the dust. The MDE is in the process of renewing the facility's air quality permit, which had expired last year. The proposed draft permit includes measures such as constructing a barrier to limit coal dust exposure and implementing a system to wet down coal-laden rail cars. However, residents argue that these measures are insufficient to address the ongoing pollution. MDE officials, including Assistant Secretary Aneca Atkinson, stated that while they can enforce restrictions and impose fines, they lack the authority to shut down the terminal, which is federally regulated. This limitation raises concerns among residents about the effectiveness of the proposed permit conditions. In a related development, CSX recently settled a class action lawsuit for $1.75 million following a coal dust explosion in 2021, which further underscores the community's grievances. Despite claims of improvements in dust control measures, residents remain skeptical, asserting that little has changed in their daily lives regarding coal dust exposure.