FOR RELEASE
Contact: Janie Sheng (202) 245-0221
06/27/2008 (Friday)
No. 08-21


FedRelay 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD DENIES REQUEST TO REJECT DEPT. OF ENERGY APPLICATION TO BUILD 300-MILE RAIL LINE IN NEVADA


The Surface Transportation Board (Board) announced today that it has denied a request by the State of Nevada (State) to reject the application of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) for authority to construct and operate an approximately 300-mile railroad line in Nevada, in the Board proceeding entitled United States Department of Energy—Rail Construction and Operation—Caliente Rail Line in Lincoln, Nye, and Esmeralda Counties, NV, STB Finance Docket No. 35106. The Board found that DOE's application was sufficiently complete for this stage of the proceeding.



The proposed rail line, to be known as the Caliente Line, would connect an existing line near Caliente, NV to a proposed geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, in Nye County, NV. The proposed line would allow the DOE to transport spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste for disposal at the proposed geologic repository, and to provide common carrier rail service to communities situated along the proposed line.



In its April 11, 2008 decision in Finance Docket No. 35106, the Board adopted a procedural schedule concerning DOE's application. Today's decision permits the State to amend its filing, but does not extend the procedural schedule. All interested parties are welcome to file comments in support of or in opposition to the application pursuant to the procedural schedule.



The Board issued its decision on the State's requests today, June 27, 2008, in STB Finance Docket No. 35106. That decision is available for viewing and downloading, via the agency's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov, under "E-Library," then under "Decisions & Notices," beneath the date "6/27/08."



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