The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has issued a new permit requiring CSX Transportation to surround its South Baltimore rail terminal with a windscreen taller than its coal piles, aiming to reduce coal dust blowing into the Curtis Bay neighborhood.
CSX must notify and seek approval from the MDE regarding the type of windscreen that will be used within 120 days, according to the permit. The windscreen must be completed and placed in operation within 18 months of MDE’s approval.
“We are holding CSX to a higher standard by requiring an enclosure to control dust — a critical step to protect the health of the surrounding community,” Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain said in a statement. “This is the most protective permit ever issued for this site, reflecting our commitment to environmental justice.”…