FOR RELEASE
Contact: Janie Sheng (202) 245-0221
11/18/2011 (Friday)
Eric Weiss
No. 11-26


FedRelay 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov



SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD ISSUES FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR "R.J. CORMAN'S" PROPOSAL TO BUILD 20-MI. RAIL LINE IN CLEARFIELD & CENTRE COS., PA


The federal Surface Transportation Board announced today that its Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the R.J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc. (RJCP) proposed construction, operation, and reactivation of a 20-mile railroad line between Wallaceton and Gorton, in Clearfield and Centre Counties, Pennsylvania.


The FEIS reflects OEA's evaluation of six alternatives during the environmental review of RJCP's proposal: the Proposed Action, an alternative to the Proposed Action (known as the Modified Proposed Action), three "no-build" alternatives, and a "no-action" alternative. Based on consultation with federal, state, and local agencies, public input, and its own independent environmental analysis, OEA found that the Modified Proposed Action would be the environmentally preferable alternative and recommends that, should the Board authorize the project, it should authorize the Modified Proposed Action, subject to OEA's final recommended environmental mitigation.


The FEIS was prepared to address public and agency comments received in response to two prior documents, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) issued on July 23, 2010, and the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) issued on March 4, 2011.


Issuance of the FEIS completes the environmental review process. The Board now will decide whether or not to grant final approval to the proposal. In reaching a final decision, the Board will take into consideration the DEIS, SDEIS, FEIS, and OEA's final recommendations on environmental mitigation.


The FEIS was issued today in the proceeding entitled R.J. Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc.—Construction and Operation Exemption—In Clearfield County, PA, Docket No. FD 35116. The entire FEIS is available for viewing and downloading via the Board's Website, at http://www.stb.dot.gov, under "E-LIBRARY" on the home page, then under "Decisions & Notices," beneath the date "11/18/11." The FEIS also is available under "ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS" on the home page, then under "Key Cases."


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