DUNNELLON, Fla. – State environmental officials approved CSX Rail’s cleanup plan Monday following a massive fire that burned thousands of chemically treated railroad ties in Dunnellon, as city officials moved to join legal action against the company.
The Dunnellon City Council voted to join Marion County’s planned injunction against CSX Rail, though final approval will come at a future meeting. City leaders described the potential injunction as a precautionary measure if the company’s environmental cleanup efforts prove unsatisfactory.
Craig Camuso, who oversees CSX’s cleanup efforts, said the company will proceed regardless of legal action.
“We know we’re at the beginning of this remediation. Whether we have this injunction filed or not, I can speak for the company, it makes no difference. We’re here to get this fixed. We’re here to get this worked out,” Camuso said.
[BELOW: Dunnellon residents react to railroad tie fire amid health concerns]
According to Camuso, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection approved the cleanup plan Monday afternoon, with soil remediation set to begin Tuesday. The company has also resumed removing thousands of remaining railroad ties from the site.
While city council members praised CSX’s transparency and communication since the fire, residents at the meeting expressed skepticism about the company’s role in the cleanup process.
“We have the fox watching the hen house,” one resident said during public comments. Another resident accused the company of deliberately choosing Dunnellon for its operations, stating, “They came to our community because we are a small town with property values below the national average. It was an economic decision on their part because it saves them money if there’s mistakes or accidents. This is economic discrimination and this has to stop.”
[BELOW: Marion County declares state of emergency after 40,000 railroad ties catch fire in Dunnellon]
Some residents reported health concerns from exposure to chemical smoke from the burning railroad ties.
“I don’t need a sample. I can feel it in my lungs. My daughter can feel it. I can feel it in my house, my house smells like it,” one resident told the council.
Local business owners expressed concerns about the fire’s impact on tourism, a crucial element of Dunnellon’s economy.
“I suggest you get out your checkbooks because we’re about to get paid for our suffering. This is not right,” one business owner said.
The environmental cleanup process will begin following state approval, though the long-term effects of the chemical exposure on the community remain uncertain.