diff --git a/trestle/tasks/csv_to_oscal_cd.py b/trestle/tasks/csv_to_oscal_cd.py
index a1da00bde..358dece29 100644
--- a/trestle/tasks/csv_to_oscal_cd.py
+++ b/trestle/tasks/csv_to_oscal_cd.py
@@ -1576,14 +1576,10 @@ class _CsvMgr():
     def __init__(self, csv_path: pathlib.Path) -> None:
         """Initialize."""
         self._csv = []
-        with open(csv_path, 'r', newline='') as f:
+        with open(csv_path, 'r', newline='', encoding='utf8') as f:
             csv_reader = csv.reader(f, delimiter=',', quoting=csv.QUOTE_MINIMAL)
-            row = None
-            try:
-                for row in csv_reader:
-                    self._csv.append(row)
-            except Exception:
-                raise RuntimeError(f'row: {row}')
+            for row in csv_reader:
+                self._csv.append(row)
         self._undecorate_header()
         self._verify()
         self._csv_rules_map = {}