Protection of underground streams, including the headwaters of Line Creek, has been a priority during construction of the new CSX Intermodal yard in south Fulton County and close to Fayette County's northern border, a company official says.

"We are one hundred percent in compliance with all county and state requirements," says Val T. Noel, general manager for the Atlanta region for CSXI.

Fayette County Commission Chairman Robert Sprayberry raised water quality issues with the truck-train yard concept more than a year ago, when rezoning for the facility was debated in Fulton County. Line Creek is a vital part of Fayette's aquifer.

The huge freight transfer facility is located just south of Fairburn, less than two miles from the Fayette line and less than one mile from the busy interchange at Interstate 85 and Ga. Highway 74.

Sprayberry expressed concerns about pollution of the waterway, commenting in a 1997 letter that "uncontained runoff from the site could potentially contaminate our community's major source of drinking water supply ... even a small degree of risk of contamination of this stream is unacceptable, as such a result could present serious public health and safety consequences for our residents."

Noel says that "box culverts" have been installed to protect the streams and that new water and sewer lines have been laid as part of the site preparation process. The site is located off McClarin Road about two miles south of Fairburn.

"We're audited daily or weekly by Fulton County," Noel says. "Our erosion control measures are in good shape. Everything's been shaped and seeded, with straw and mesh over the embankments to prevent erosion."

He notes that "there are no wetlands being disturbed in phase one" of the construction. Present construction does not extend to the Borum Springs area, he says, which includes a Civil War encampment site and an 1800s "capstone" over the spring area. The company plans to move the capstone to the front-entrance area, he adds, which would "allow everyone access to view it in a landscaped setting ... it's so far back in the woods now that no one has a chance to enjoy this bit of history of the area."

The yard will comprise 160 acres of pavement and train tracks, he said, within a 500-acre parcel owned by CSXI. According to a report by Peggy Collins, CSXI account executive, to the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce, the yard will start with 13,500 feet of tracks and 1,000 truck parking spaces. At opening, there will be 300-400 "lifts" of freight containers daily, meaning that 150-200 tractor-trailer trucks will go in and out of the facility every day, Collins said. Primary destinations for the freight movement will include points in Florida, and the port of New Orleans, she noted.

Collins also explained that CSXI has a large "customer base" in Atlanta, including package shippers and motor carriers, and is operating its Hulsey Yard in downtown Atlanta at capacity.

"We've needed more room for a long time," she said. The new Fairburn yard will bring about $180 million in economic growth, along with 450 new jobs, Collins said. The scheduled opening is September 1999.

Noel asserts that construction is "ahead of schedule, as a result of good weather ... we might be able to open as soon as June of 1999."

The Fayette Board of Commissioners also submitted a "public comment" document to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1996 about the proposed railyard project. In the document, county planner Chris Venice expressed the board's concern about "the development's impact on traffic circulation and movement, particularly as regards the delays and safety issues already experienced at exit 12 on Interstate 85."

CSXI has recently joined with other large companies in the area to seek a CID, "community improvement district," which would allow a combination of public and private funds to improve the area's infrastructure. Among proposed projects for the CID is the improvement of the Ga. Highway 74 and I-85 interchange (exit 12), extension and improvement of Oakley Industrial Boulevard, and a bridge across the railroad tracks at Oakley and Fayetteville Road, at the entrance to Ralston Purina Company.