Judge Proposes CSX, D.C. Compromise on Hazmat Ban

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federal judge proposed to broker a compromise between the Washington, D.C., government and CSX Transportation Inc. in an ongoing dispute over the city’s pending ban on rail shipments of hazardous materials, the Washington Post reported.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan proposed a 30-day cooling-off period for settlement talks and proposed that the city delay enforcement of its 90-day ban, passed Feb. 15.

He also proposed that the eastern freight rail line not move the cargo in the District during the 30 days, the Post said.

Attorneys for the District, CSX and the Justice Department, which backed CSX, told Sullivan they could have an answer as soon as Thursday, the Post reported.

CSX filed a lawsuit to overturn the ban, saying only that the federal government has the power to regulate rail security and that such bans could cripple the nation's rail transportation. The Justice Department previously sided with CSX.

(Click here for previous coverage.)

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