NEPA Review Moves Ahead in New England Transrail Case in Wilmington and Woburn, Mass; STB Seeks Public Comment
The Surface Transportation Board issued a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement related to New England Transrail, LLC’s request for authority to construct, acquire and operate railroad lines in Wilmington and Woburn, Mass. The Notice requests public comment on the Draft Scope of Study for the project, and advises interested parties that the agency
will hold a public scoping meeting, where members of the public will be invited to comment on the Draft Scope of Study. To view the Notice and request for comment, click here.
STB Issues Supplemental NPRM on Proposed Changes to URCS
Based on public comments received in Review of the General Purpose Costing System, EP 431 (Sub-No. 4), the STB is revising its proposal to eliminate the “make-whole adjustment” that is currently applied as part of the agency’s general purpose costing system, the Uniform Railroad Costing System (URCS), and proposing other, related modifications to URCS.
Stakeholders are invited to comment on the proposed changes. The STB will also hold a public technical conference on the proposed changes on Sept. 7, 2016. To read the STB’s decisions, click here and here.
Proceeding Reopened: CSX Elsdon Line
The STB reopened Docket FD 35522 to address concerns raised by Chicago communities along the CSX Elsdon Line. CSX was instructed to comply with its representation that it would not route a train onto the line unless the track was clear, or to show cause why it could not do so. Also, the STB required CSX to submit monthly reports, providing information about at-grade crossings, blocked crossings, and the status of operating protocols with third-party railroads. To read the STB’s decision, click here.
Railroad Carload and Tonnage Data, by State
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Economics has made public a report providing annual carload and corresponding tonnage data for freight-rail transportation either originating, terminating, or traversing each state of the United States, as derived from the Board’s Confidential Waybill Sample, from 2012 through 2014. Annual data on states in which there are minimal freight-rail operations or few rail shippers have been redacted for confidentiality. To view the new report, click here.
Got a Complaint?
Need help from the Board without filing a formal complaint? The Rail Customer and Public Assistance team offers a free, confidential avenue to settle disputes between shippers and railroads. Read more about the program here.