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Supreme Court to review halted Utah rail project approval
The Supreme Court will decide if a key approval for the Uinta Basin Railway project in Utah can be reinstated, affecting local oil transport and production.
Mark Sherman and Mead Gruver report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The Uinta Basin Railway would connect Utah oil producers to larger markets, boosting daily crude shipment by 350,000 barrels.
- Environmental groups and Colorado officials oppose the project due to spill risks and increased fossil fuel use.
- The Supreme Court will determine if the Surface Transportation Board's environmental review was adequate.
Key quote:
“This project is vital for the economic growth and connectivity of the Uinta Basin region and we are committed to seeing it through.”
— Keith Heaton, director of the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition
Why this matters:
The decision impacts economic growth in rural Utah and environmental safety in Colorado. Approval could increase oil production and transport, raising climate change concerns.
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Credit: Darla Hueske/Unsplash
Utah's oil train project seeks Supreme Court intervention
A coalition in Utah has petitioned the Supreme Court to reconsider a court ruling that halted a railway project due to environmental concerns.
In short:
- Utah's Seven County Infrastructure Coalition is challenging a decision that blocked an oil train railway over environmental review concerns.
- The coalition argues for a limited scope of environmental review, referring to a 2004 Supreme Court decision.
- Legal opponents and environmental groups remain critical, emphasizing the project's violation of federal laws and its potential harm.
Key quote:
“This appeal is a last-ditch attempt to dodge environmental laws to facilitate a climate train wreck."
— Wendy Park, senior attorney, Center for Biological Diversity
Why this matters:
The safety of transporting oil by rail has been a pressing concern for communities along these routes. Accidents can lead to explosions and fires, posing immediate danger to residents and causing evacuations, property damage, and, in the worst cases, loss of life.
A half year after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, independent researchers said their work contradicted the government narrative that the area is safe.
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