TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sierra Club Florida applauds last week’s announcement from State Representative J.J. Grow that CSX Transportation Inc. will remove the stockpile of creosote-treated railroad ties from the Dunnellon/Chatmire community. This action marks an important step toward protecting residents’ health and safeguarding the Rainbow River and surrounding ecosystems.
Cliff Thaell, Sierra Club Florida Executive Committee Vice Chair, said, “This commitment to remove the toxic railroad ties near the historic African American community of Chatmire in Marion County is a testament to the power of organized, community-driven action. We’re grateful to Representative J.J. Grow for engaging CSX directly and elevating residents’ concerns, and we appreciate CSX’s willingness to respond as a responsible corporate partner. This victory reflects the persistence of everyone who stood together – Sierra Club Florida, Concerned Citizens of Chatmire, Rainbow River Conservation Inc., the Marion County Commission, Marion County NAACP, and the City of Dunnellon – to protect the Chatmire community and our region’s natural resources. We look forward to the ties being removed quickly and safely.”
While this is an important step forward, Sierra Club Florida emphasizes that key questions remain to ensure community safety and environmental protection. We urge CSX and state officials to provide clear, transparent details on the following:
- Timeline for removal: When the work will begin, how long it will take, how residents will be updated, and what safety measures will be in place throughout the process.
- Environmental mitigation: What testing and remediation will address potential soil, air, and water contamination.
- Health monitoring: How long-term health impacts from creosote exposure will be tracked and communicated to residents.
Sierra Club Florida will continue working alongside community members and partner organizations to ensure accountability, transparency, and full environmental and public health protections. This includes monitoring the disposal process, safeguarding the Rainbow River and local waterways, and supporting long-term testing and remediation.
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