Text of Senator Charles Schumer's Letter to Mr. Michael J. Ward CEO, CSX Transportation
Dear Mr. Ward:
I write on behalf of the City of Rochester to express my concern over CSX's decision to limit the scope of the cleanup of its Genesee River chemical spill. Specifically, I am concerned that this decision will delay development associated with the Fast Ferry project, of which I am a supporter and have worked to secure federal funding.
As you know, on December 23, 2001, a runaway CSX train derailed in Rochester's Charlotte neighborhood, spilling thousands of gallons of acetone and methylene chloride on the banks of the Genesee River and into the river itself. This unfortunate event was made worse by the location of the spill, which occurred in the same area targeted for development as part of Rochester's Fast Ferry project. While the focal point of the project is a high-speed ferry that will take passengers to and from Toronto, the development planned on the waterfront is just as important to the City of Rochester and Monroe County.
It is this development that is threatened by the limited scope of the cleanup. I am told by the mayor of Rochester and city officials that CSX is not willing to clean river sediment, preferring to allow the pollution to dissipate on its own. Additionally, I am told that not all contaminated soils have been removed from the River Street right-of-way. Work scheduled to begin soon on a city plan that includes a riverfront walkway, docks, picnic shelters, and restaurants will disturb contaminated river sediment, and will likely require the city to foot the bill for the sediment removal.
This is unfair to the taxpayers of Rochester and Monroe County. This important riverfront and lakefront development has been carefully planned for years, and now an important section of it is in jeopardy due to the CSX spill. I ask you to review your decision to limit the scope of the cleanup, in light of the planned development in this area. I understand the remediation is costly, and I applaud CSX for taking responsibility on the cleanup work accomplished to date. Yet, it appears that an important part of the fast ferry development project is in jeopardy because CSX will not commit to a full cleanup of this chemical spill.
I thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Charles E. Schumer
United States Senate