FOR RELEASE
Contact: Janie Sheng (202) 245-0221
07/12/2007 (Thursday)
No. 07-24


FedRelay 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD TO HOLD PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE WITH WASHINGTON STATE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION ON "NORTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN RAILROAD PROJECT"


The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced today that its Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) will hold a July 19, 2007 Public Open House concerning the proposed "Northern Columbian Basin Railroad Project" (Project).


STB and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will hold the Thursday, July 19 Public Open House from 4:00--7:00 p.m. at the Grant County International Airport, 7810 Andrews Street, N.E., Moses Lake, Washington. The STB and WSDOT are working together as co-lead agencies for the environmental review of the Project, and the two agencies will co-host the Open House.


The Public Open House will provide interested persons and parties the opportunity to learn about the proposed Project, view maps of the environmental-study area, meet with representatives from STB and WSDOT, and provide input on potential environmental impacts and possible alternatives to be evaluated in the STB-WSDOT environmental review.


The purpose of the Project is to attract new rail-dependent businesses to the Moses Lake area and to encourage continued use and preservation of rail service in the region. The three components of the proposed project include: building a new rail line from Wheeler Road to the area known as Parker Horn; improving existing track between Parker Horn and Grant County International Airport; and extending existing Columbia Basin Railroad track to industrial areas just south of the airport.


For further information concerning the proposed Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project, please contact Christa Dean, Attorney and SEA Project Manager, at (202) 245-0299, christa.dean@stb.dot.gov, or Elizabeth Phinney, WSDOT Rail Environmental Manager, at (360) 705-7902, phinnee@wsdot.wa.gov. Information is also available at the Project web site at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Rail/Freight/WheelerToSoapLakeRailEngineering.


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