Two environmental groups are suing federal agencies, alleging they allowed CSX Transportation to illegally mine a river gorge along the Nolichucky River on the Tennessee-North Carolina border, pictured here. (Photo: Getty Images)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee environmental regulators have ordered CSX Transportation to stop dredging the Nolichucky River Gorge for rocks and sediment being used to shore up a rail line washed away by Tropical Storm Helene.
In separate letters issued to the Fortune 500 company last week, the Corps and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) warned the company’s dredging was unauthorized — and noted CSX had continued dredging activities even after being put on notice last month by both agencies.
The company is prohibited from performing “any excavation or dredging of material from the Nolichucky River or its tributaries in both Tennessee and North Carolina, the Dec. 2 letter from the Corps said. CSX must “immediately cease and desist” its dredging, TDEC’s Dec. 6 letter said.