The chapter meeting for the American Petroleum Institute Uintah Basin focused on the latest with the Uinta Basin Railway project. Pam Juliano, Rio Grande Pacific Government affairs Director, and Kyle Robe(Robb), Rio Grande Pacific Deputy Project Manager, presented about the proposed railway and took questions. The topic of permitting was among the questions and concerns. The project is waiting for the U.S. Forest Service Record of Decision. There has been significant efforts to see that done, including a conference call with Forest Service officials and the entire Utah Congressional delegation urging Forest officials to get it signed. When asked about the lawsuit filed by Eagle County Colorado and the Center for Biological Diversity against the Surface Transportation Board, Juliano emphasized that the Colorado news reports about the railway contain a lot of misinformation. When asked about any burden on taxpayers the project could create, it was made clear that this project is a private investment and no taxpayer money is involved. The grant issued through the Community Impact Board will be reimbursed as soon as permitting is in hand and that will take place as soon as the Forest Service signature is on the Record of Decision. Another interesting note that was made by project deputy manager Kyle Robe(Robb) is that there will be no man camps developed. Rather, it is anticipated that there will be 300 new homes built in the communities from Price to Vernal because they are absolutely serious about a priority of a local hiring preference. The anticipated construction start time remains January 2023 with a completion estimate of January 2025. The rail will run 85 miles with areas of a 2 ½ percent grade and a maximum speed of the train of 40mph, though a loaded train will travel much slower than that. Learn more about the project at www.uintabasinrailway.com.
