The Uintah County Commissioners are among those with something to say about the Supreme Court Decision to uphold the permits issued for the Uinta Basin Railway. “We are excited about this great news and can’t wait to see what this transformative infrastructure will provide to the residents of Uintah County,” said John Laursen, Chair of the Uintah County Commission. “We are happy to see the Supreme Court’s unanimous 8-0 decision, clearly they understand this issue and we thank them for their willingness to stand up for what is right.” Commissioner Sonja Norton emphasized the ways this will benefit the local economy. “The Railway will provide substantial economic benefits, not only to oil and gas, but will open the door to agriculture, manufacturing, and a diverse network of potential industries,” shares Commissioner Norton. “Having more options to transport goods will jump start our economy in ways we’ve long hoped for.” Commissioner Willis LeFevre calls the decision welcome news. “This is a huge project and we are grateful to all those who have made it a reality; Seven-County, DHIP Group, the Ute Indian Tribe, and our federal Delegation,” emphasized LeFevre. “The work’s not done yet, but we look forward to working with all those involved to see this to the finish line.” Among the next steps moving forward will be the reinstatement of the federal permits by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Forest Service.
