The Supreme Court decision last week to uphold the federal environmental review of the Uinta Basin Railway continues to inspire responses from Utah leaders. “America used to know how to build,” shares Utah Senator Mike Lee. “The Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge—none of these landmarks could have been completed under the activist-driven interpretation of NEPA that this ruling corrects. With this decision, the Supreme Court finally put NEPA back in its proper place—as a procedural safeguard, not a weapon for endless litigation. It ends the idea that speculative claims about unrelated projects hundreds of miles away can derail a railroad in Utah. Finally,” concludes Senator Lee, “our state, and others like it, can once again unlock resources, create jobs, and restore American energy dominance.” Governor Spencer Cox has agreed, specifically that this has positive meaning for Utah. “[The] Supreme Court ruling on the Uinta Basin Railway was a big win for rural Utah,” shares Governor Cox. “This project will strengthen our energy independence and create good jobs. It also brings much-needed clarity to the permitting process. We can be responsible stewards of the environment and expand economic opportunity. This decision is an important step toward achieving both.” The building of the Uinta Basin Railway aims to solve the freight transportation issues faced in northeastern Utah.
