Oil trains don't belong in the Rocky Mountains

A proposal to resuscitate an abandoned rail line in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains could open the door for oil train traffic, threatening the region’s air, water, wilderness, our climate, and more.

For 25 years, the rail over Tennessee Pass and down the Arkansas River Valley has been silent due to derailments and other difficulties. Now, in filings with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, a company wants to resume operations on this 163-mile line. The company behind these plans is the same company pushing to build a new railroad to haul crude oil out of Utah. There’s every reason to believe the two proposals are related.

More oil trains means more environmental contamination and climate destruction. We can’t let the door open for this disaster. Sign the petition, join us in speaking out!

Photo Credit: Bruce Fingerhood

Recipients

Cynthia Brown, Chief, Section of Administration, Surface Transportation Board
U.S. Surface Transportation Board

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Dear Surface Transportation Board:

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Re: Docket Numbers FD-34670 and FD-34671

I urge you to reject the Notices of Exemption filed by the Colorado, Midland, and Pacific Railway Company to restart operations on 163 miles of abandoned rail line in Colorado.

This rail line was abandoned in 1996, nearly 25 years ago, due to derailments and other difficulties and costs in operating trains in the Rocky Mountain high country of Colorado.

Since abandonment, this area has come to support vibrant outdoor recreation and conservation that is dependent upon a clean, safe, and healthy environment, including clean air and water. Notably, Browns Canyon National Monument was designated to protect a portion of the Arkansas River, which the current abandoned line runs through.

I am very concerned that this proposal would open the door for dangerous oil train traffic in the Rocky Mountains. The parent company of Colorado, Midland, and Pacific has concurrently applied to build a new railroad in Utah to haul crude oil. Resuming rail operations would provide convenient access for oil to be shipped from Utah, through Colorado, and to the Gulf of Mexico region.

The company seeking the exemptions claims there will be no environmental impacts associated with resuming operations of the rail line. This is preposterous. Restarting operations would increase traffic by 100%. This will lead to a myriad of very serious potential environmental impacts, including:

- Air quality impacts, including impacts to adjacent Class I wilderness areas in the mountains of Colorado.
- Water quality impacts, particularly impacts from potential train derailments that could irreversibly contaminate headwater streams, the Colorado River, Eagle River, and Arkansas River.
- Impacts to the climate related to the burning of fossil fuels, including the processing and burning of any oil shipped from Utah.
- Impacts to protected lands, including Browns Canyon National Monument and other public lands in the area.
- Impacts to fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats, in particular imperiled species such as native cutthroat trout and Canada lynx.
- Impacts to communities and businesses that are now more dependent on the quality of the outdoors than ever.

The Notices of Exemption filed by the Colorado, Midland, and Pacific Railway Company are an attempt to sidestep environmental and public scrutiny. The proposal must be rejected.

Sincerely,
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[Your Address]
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[Your Email]