Created: 5/8/2008 7:48:28 PM 
Chapin (WLTX) -- Standing in his backyard, one block off of Dutch Fork Road, Kevin Byrd glances at the railroad track that cuts through, concerned about what may be added to it in the future.
"It does see to add insult to injury that they would pick on a town they felt like they could muscle their way in and take the land," Byrd said.
His property is close to proposed land that CSX Railroad is trying to obtain in order to build rail siding. The half-mile of track would branch off the main track that runs parallel to Dutch Fork Road. It would allow trains to pull off and park, so a train moving in the opposite direction can come through.
The siding proposal would run from Lynn McCartha road down to Three Dog Road. CSX has already bought property in order to build the siding, but the company needs to obtain more. Two landowners are currently fighting the company in court to prevent CSX from condemning the land and seizing it, which state law does allow.
Up and down the road, yellow signs stating, "STOP CSX" are staked in the grass. The Dutch Fork Action group formed this past winter to try and stop the siding from being built. They fear it will pose a risk not unlike the accident in Graniteville, three years ago.
In January of 2005, a parked Norfolk Southern Railway train veered into a train parked on siding in Graniteville. A liquid chlorine tank ruptured, causing a gas cloud to infiltrate the city. Nine people died, more than 500 were treated for injury, and thousands had to be evacuated. Officials say a manual mistake caused the accident.
While the Dutch Fork siding track would be controlled electronically, residents still fear error.
"It would essentially be a death sentence. There's no way to mobilize an evacuation in this proximity," Byrd said.
He's referring to the fact that Dutch Fork is the main access road in the area. If an accident were to occur, the siding is in the same location as the evacuation route.
Lake Murray Elementary School and The Lowman Home are within half a mile. Lake Murray is less than 2,000 feet away.
In January, the Lexington-Richland School District school board passed a resolution requesting CSX reconsider its intent to build in the proposed location, due to possible safety issues.
State lawmakers are also in disagreement. Senator John Courson (R-Lexington/Richland Co.) and Representative Nathan Ballentine (R-Lexington/Richland Co.) introduced legislation that would allow a railroad company to negotiate with landowners in order to obtain property, but not force then to sell.
Courson says, "The concern is not the railroad itself, but the location."
He added that CSX already has a siding in Prosperity that they could expand on instead of building a new one. Sen. Courson said that if CSX continues with the plans, "next year they will face serious opposition" at the State House.
A CSX Railroad official says that safety is their first priority, both on the tracks and off. The official added that the proposed location off Dutch Fork Rd. is the best and most efficient place for a siding to be built. He added that the company has a record of improving safety, and that in 2006, CSX did emergency response training with Richland County. The company spokesperson added that they will continue to work with local first responders on an evacuation plan.
CSX Railroad's plans to begin construction hinge upon a lawsuit that will have a ruling in the next three months. After that, if the judging rules in their favor, construction will begin.
"We just feel the lives of the people who can not evacuate on their own, they should have the right to live in a safe environment," said Byrd, speaking of the students and the elderly.
"We feel like this should be placed somewhere else."
