Uinta Basin Railway Update Wraps Up Day 1 Of Uintah Basin Energy Summit

Day 1 of the Uintah Basin Energy Summit wrapped up with an update on the Uinta Basin Railway. Mark Michel, Managing Partner with DHIP Group, gave the project update over Zoom. He said that the big news since the Supreme Court ruling is that the Record of Decision with the Surface Transportation Board will likely be reestablished and enforced by the end of November. Once that happens, it’s hopeful that the permits with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will follow shortly after, possibly by the end of the year or the beginning of 2027. Michel said they are eager to start construction and get crews on site tearing up dirt, potentially by late spring, early summer. “We're immensely excited about the opportunity to get this thing finally going now that we've gone full circle through all the permitting and legal barriers and impediments,” said Michel. “So we're excited to have that done.” Michel also emphasized that connecting the Basin with the national rail network will not only benefit the energy industry but there will be many opportunities for bringing new businesses to the Basin, increasing economic activity in new ways.