FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Mike McKee
Seven County Infrastructure Coalition Executive Director
mmckee@7county.utah.gov
Pamela Juliano
Director of Government and Public Affairs
Uinta Basin Railway, LLC
pjuliano@rgpc.com
U.S. Surface Transportation Board Grants Final Approval for Construction and Operation of Uinta Basin Railway
Uinta Basin, Utah (Dec. 15, 2021) – The Uinta Basin Railway reached a major milestone today
with the final approval from the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) to construct and
operate the railway, subject to the Board’s environmental mitigation measures. The Uinta Basin
Railway (UBRY) will enable efficient, environmentally sound railway transportation service to
northeastern Utah’s industries and businesses, and the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and
Ouray Reservation.
“On behalf of our Seven County Infrastructure (SCIC) board members, I would like to thank the
STB for their comprehensive review of the project.” said SCIC Executive Director Mike McKee.
“It is important to note that we would not be where we are today if it were not for the superb
cooperation of our stakeholders, the Ute Indian Tribe, federal, state, and local agencies, our
elected officials, and the public. We appreciate all of the hard work that has already gone into
the railway and look forward to the continued hard work that will bring this project to
completion.”
The environmental review process has included extensive opportunity for public participation
as well as input from agencies and other interested parties. Based on this analysis, the STB
identified the Whitmore Park Alternative as its Environmentally Preferable Alternative for the
railway because it would avoid or minimize major environmental impacts compared to the two
other build alternatives.
“We are grateful to the Board for its decision, and to the STB and the federal, state, local, and
tribal cooperating agencies for their careful, thorough, and expeditious preparation of the
railway’s Environmental Impact Statement,” said UBRY President Mark W. Hemphill. “We
appreciate the tremendous support for the future of Utah’s Uinta Basin by the Business
Committee of the Ute Indian Tribe, Utah’s entire federal delegation, Governor Spencer Cox,
Senate President Stuart Adams, Speaker of the House Brad Wilson, and the county
commissioners and mayors of the Uinta Basin. Our public partners, the Seven County
Infrastructure Coalition, and their Executive Director Mike McKee, have put enormous effort
into this railway for nearly a decade. We’re honored to participate in their vision for the
economic success of their counties and communities.”
The STB’s license enables construction and operation of the Uinta Basin Railway by the Seven
County Infrastructure Coalition. Uinta Basin Railway, LLC, will finance, construct, and operate
the railway. For more information on the Uinta Basin Railway, please visit
www.uintabasinrailway.com. The STB’s decision may be viewed and downloaded here.
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