The Uinta Basin Railway project has officially been posted in the Federal Register, meaning the National Environmental Policy (NEPA) has formally started on the project. Utah’s Permanent Community Impact Fund Board met on June 13th and approved the final $21.4 million dollars needed for the project’s EIS process. The Federal Register notice listed on Wednesday, June 19th. It states that “The Seven County Infrastructure Coalition (Coalition) plans to file a request with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) for authority to construct and operate an approximately 80-mile rail line between two terminus points in the Uinta Basin near Myton, Utah, and Leland Bench, Utah, and the interstate rail network. The construction and operation of the proposed rail line has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts; therefore, the Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has determined that the preparation of an EIS is appropriate…” Comments for the Draft Scope of Study for the EIS are accepted
until August 3rd.
The Office of Environmental Analysis will hold six public meetings in the project area. The scoping meetings will be held in an open house format for the first half hour, followed by a brief presentation by OEA and an opportunity to provide public comments. All are encouraged to visit the following link and read the Notice of Intent.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-06-19/pdf/2019-12836.pdf
Public Scoping Meetings
1.
Monday July 15, 2019, 3–5 p.m.
at
the Ute Tribal Auditorium, 910 South
7500 East, Fort Duchesne, Utah.
2.
Tuesday July 16, 2019, 5–7 p.m.
at
the Moffat County Fairgrounds Pavilion,
640 E Victory Way, Craig, Colorado.
3.
Wednesday July 17, 2019, 5–7 p.m.
at the Carbon County Event Center, 450
S Fairgrounds Road, Price, Utah.
4.
Thursday July 18, 2019, 11 a.m.–1
p.m. at the Grace Event Center, 1024 W
Highway 40, Roosevelt, Utah.
5.
Thursday July 18, 2019, 5–7 p.m.
at
the Uintah Conference Center, 313 East
200 South, Vernal, Utah.
6.
Friday July 19, 2019, 10 a.m.–12
p.m. at Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City
Downtown,
215 West South Temple,
Salt Lake City, Utah.
