Coal

Coal Dust Mitigation Committee

The Coal Dust Mitigation Committee focuses on Norfolk Southern's coal distribution facility--the largest of its kind in the United States--and the pollution it brings to the communities of Lambert's Point and Ghent. It is our belief that no individual or corporation should be allowed to increase its profits--Norfolk Southern's profits in 2014 were $11.6 billion (gross)/$2.0 billion (net)--by releasing a poisonous, toxic substance into the air we breathe and onto our properties. Norfolk Southern (NS) should not be able to privatize its profits and socialize its expenses on the backs of the neighboring residents while paying its CEO $13.5 million dollars annually ($6,500/hr $260,000/week). So, please, let's join together and stop their pollution once and for all! 

Our goal is to apply pressure to Norfolk Southern's CEO, James Squires, to act in a socially responsible manner and mitigate the toxic coal dust that permeates the air we breathe and dirties our property. To accomplish this goal, the residents of both Lambert's Point and Ghent, in conjunction with other concerned residents of the Hampton Roads area, ask you to display a yard sign, bumper sticker, and/or a lapel stickercalling on CEO Squires to STOP THE COAL DUST. This will visibly encourage as well as help educate neighbors, friends, and the public to join our campaign to persuade NS to do the right thing.

Why is Coal Dust an important topic?

Coal dust contains a variety of compounds and elements which are toxic or carcenegenic to humans. Here's a short list of these toxic elements:

  • Arsenic
  • Mercury
  • Lead

How you can get involved:

  • Sign petition in support of Councilman Smigiel's mitigation resolution to enclose dumpers, conveyors and chutes and install covers on coal cars HERE
  • Join our Coal Dust Task Force by emailing the committee's chair, __________
  • Get your yard sign, bumper sticker and lapel sticker by filling out an order form HERE
  • Write a letter to the editor of the Virginian-Pilot asking Norfolk Southern to enclose their cars, dumpers, conveyors, and chutes and to install covers on all their coal cars: letters@pilotonline.com

If you'd like more in-depth information, please visit our Coal Dust Mitigation Committee Facebook Page: Norfolk Southern: Stop the Coal Dust. 

To learn more about the science of how coal dust adversely affects our health, please reference our fact sheet HERE.