CSX Railway Transporting Unidentified Products and Materials Into Low Income African American Community In Sumter, South Carolina Without Scrutiny or Oversight from City, County or State Governmental Officials

Open Letter to Mr. James Foote, CEO CSX Railway

Re: Transparency Regarding the Nature of and Identity of Contents of CSX Freight Cars Traveling Through Sumter, South Carolina
Transparency Regarding the Nature of and Identity of Contents of CSX Freight Cars Stationed in Sumter, South Carolina for Extended Periods of Time
Responsibility of CSX in Protecting and Preserving the Environmental Safety and Sustainability of Reduced Emissions and High Air, Land, and Water Quality at the CSX Railway Systems
Accountability and Responsibility of the CSX Railway System to the Sumter Community in General and to the Low-Income Community where the CSX Railway Systems to Provide Job-Training and Employment Opportunities

Dear Mr. Foote:

The CSX Railway System has been a part of Sumter, South Carolina for many decades. It is situated in the center of the most impoverished area of the City of Sumter. Freight trains run through this community daily and routinely stay "parked" or stationary on the tracks for days at a time...sometimes as long as a week or more. The contents of these freight cars are unknown to the overwhelming majority of the residents of this said community, many of whom reside within yards of the railroad tracks.

Currently, the CSX Railway System located on Dingle Street, Sumter, South Carolina, has an old railroad crossing sign on the ground lying on top of a heap of twisted metal and other debris. There is an accumulation of plastic bucket-sized containers that are sprawled on the ground along with a large rusted chain, randomly lying on the ground near the containers. There are two huge, rusted pipes on the CSX grounds that have rocks and debris and an old car tire lying in the entrance to one of the said pipes. Leaching of heavy metals into the ground and water systems due to these corroded pipes lying randomly on the ground predisposes the community in close proximity to a myriad of health problems including those mentioned earlier in this letter and more.

Oftentimes residents of the community crawl under and over the freight cars to get to the other side of the tracks when the length of stay of the train extends over several days. This practice is extremely dangerous and jeopardizes life and limb. Prolonged periods of time and lengthy periods of freight trains being idle on the tracks causes considerable disadvantage and substantial burdens to the ability of residents of the community to move about in the city like others in the Sumter community.

Officials of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) have stated to me recently that DHEC's Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste Departments are totally unaware of the identity and nature of any and all contents which are transported by train into and out of the City of Sumter and Sumter County.

This uncertainty and lack of knowledge of the nature of the materials that are transported to and from the City of Sumter and Sumter County is dangerous and perilous.

The vast majority of residents in the area surrounding the CSX Railway System are African American families who are employed in low-wage jobs and have overall low-incomes. A disproportionate number of these individuals suffer from medical problems such as severe hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, and high-risk pregnancies. The incidence of the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) infection has risen to significant heights and hospital admissions are increasing continuously. The overwhelming majority of people affected are African Americans who live in low-income communities, such as that found in South Sumter, South Carolina.

Numerous environmental, medical, and sociological investigative studies have proven that many factors contribute to the aforementioned medical problems. These factors include environmental as well as non-environmental etiologies.

The Family Unit, Inc., my 501(c)(3), non-profit, nonpartisan, charitable organization, respectfully requests that the CSX Railway System adopts and implements as soon as possible, complete and full disclosure and transparency in regards to any and all equipment, materials, hazardous and non-hazardous, which are contained in the freight cars that are part of the CSX Railway System. Please list any and all substances that are being transported along with any materials which have the potential to release toxic liquids, fumes, and/or gases into the atmosphere, ground, and water.

We respectfully request that our local DHEC Solid Waste and Environmental Hazard Officials conduct, alongside CSX's Solid Waste and Environmental Hazards officials, inspections on the freight cars quarterly and report these findings to the City of Sumter and to the Sumter County's Administration and to The Family Unit, Inc., for the purpose of transparency and full disclosure.

People who live in poverty and despair are vulnerable to acute infection and chronic diseases at a level that exceeds others who live in affluent communities. The CSX Railway System most be cognizant of and responsive to the community in which it lies as well as the overall community of citizens.

Lastly, please expound on CSX Railway Systems' current employment opportunities and job-training for residents of the Sumter community...especially those who reside in the communities which surround and are in close proximity to the CSX Railway Systems, the vast majority of whom are African American.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this letter.

Your response to the matters addressed in this letter would be greatly appreciated.

Yours Sincerely,

Brenda C. Williams, MD, The Family Unit, Inc., a 501(c)(3), non-profit, nonpartisan, charitable organization