While it’s true that a federal appeals court sided with environmental groups challenging an approval from the Surface Transportation Board regarding the Uinta Basin Railway, it is not true that this is an endgame for the project. In fact, those behind the project were quick to respond to Friday’s ruling clarifying this point. “The Uinta Basin Railway team remains committed to the successful planning, construction, and operation of the railway,” shares the statement. “While we disagree with the D.C. Circuit Court’s recent decision, we respect the authority of the U.S. Court of Appeals. We firmly believe that the railway’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) contains appropriate and thorough analysis of the highlighted concerns, as it stands today. Nonetheless, we are ready, willing, and capable of working with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to ensure additional reviews and the project’s next steps proceed without further delay.” The Uinta Basin Railway project has spent years working to provide a solution to transportation issues in the Uintah Basin through the construction of a railroad that would connect industry to the national railway network. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board granted approval for its construction and operation in 2021 which will now be reexamined. The Uinta Basin Railway team’s statement concluded by sharing that they “look forward to bringing this railway to the Basin in a safe and cost-effective way to enable economic stability, sustainable communities and an enriched quality of life to Utahns and beyond.”
