In the first of a two-day hearing, New York Susquehanna & Western Railway Corp. testified to a U.S. district court judge that the company is making progress to replace its open-air waste transfer stations. According to an article in The Record, the company is working to close down three open-air facilities. In addition, a new enclosed facility was opened last week with plans to complete a second one by the end of the month. According to the article, a third facility is near completion. Construction of the new facilities will cost about $4 million.

The hearing comes after the railroad company was accused of violating state and local regulations requiring rail operators that ship solid waste to enclose their waste facilities. Although the company claims that it is exempt under federal law from these regulations, it is attempting to comply.