Feds Approve Delay in Environmental Study for New Rail Line

By Bob Balgemann, REPORTER

 A temporary suspension of the environmental review of the proposed new rail line that could come through part of Boone County has been approved by the Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA). The OEA is part of the Federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) that ultimately will decide the fate of the project initiated by Great Lakes Basin Transportation. The 280-mile line would start in Milton, Wis., come through some part of northern Illinois and end near La Porte, Ind.

The purpose of the new track is to make it easier for freight to get around the city of Chicago. Steve Ernst, retired Executive Director of the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning (RMAP), called it “an interstate highway for rail. For us, it allows access by business and industry for their products. We don’t currently have a lot of direct rail access in the region.” He made those observations and others while appearing before the Machesney Park Village Board at its Monday, Dec. 5 meeting. Part of GLBT’s preferred route initially went through the Capron and Garden Prairie areas of eastern Boone County. However, opposition from residents, the County Board, city of Belvidere and others prompted the railroad to recently eliminate that part of the county from “preferred route” status. Ernst said the route currently includes the area south of the Chicago-Rockford International Airport, and he had good things to say about the project. “Delays in Chicago are causing this area to lose a market share of freight,” he said. “The problem is that there are no rail connections in the Rockford area.” He added that the “best areas for rail around here are at the Rockford Airport and the Chrysler plant in Boone County.”

In a letter dated Thursday, Dec. 1 to Victoria Rutson, Director of the OEA, Frank Patton, President and CEO of Great Lakes Basin Transportation, stated that the delay would allow GLBT opportunity to provide more detailed information about its proposal. He stated that suspension of the environmental review “will allow it (GLBT) to finish preparing our application for authority to construct and operate its proposed rail line, which will provide the OEA with a more complete overview of the project’s business and operating impacts.” Previously, he stated that GLBT “has responded to all outstanding requests for information from your office.”

In her response, approving the requested suspension, Rutson cautioned that “stopping and starting the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process often adds time and expense to the process, and increases the burden on all stakeholders.” To ensure that the delay does not become unduly lengthy, she asked Patton to “submit a policy update to me on Feb. 28, 2017, on the application and, if relevant, any other factors that may delay resumption of the Board’s NEPA process.” Once the review continues, she said OEA will prepare a brief alternatives document for public review and comment. Additional public meetings may be held, if warranted.

Following any additional periods of public comments, Rutson stated that the OEA will issue a final scope of study for the environmental impact review and prepare a draft environmental impact statement. “Because the environmental review process is now on hold, these next steps must await receipt of your application,” she stated.