DME: Confronting local coal train commotion

摘要

Dakota, Minnesota Eastern Railroad's (DME) wait to become the first new Class I in more than 100 years grew longer last month — by at least 90 days. Surface Transportation Board Dec. 14 extended the public comment due date three months to March 6 for DME's coal-train proposal. Per public concerns, STB determined that "more time is needed to provide an adequate opportunity for meaningful review... and comment from 'environmental justice' communities whose safety and healthful environments must not be adversely affected on the basis of the communities' demographic characteristics." DME's $1.5 billion plan to move coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin to Winona, Minn., would entail constructing 280 miles of track in western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming, and rebuilding and upgrading another 840 track miles.