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Finance DocketBefore the Surface Transportation Board

FD 36616

Docket Yard · docketyard.org/d/FD-36616 · entries shown: all, newest first

SAVAGE TOOELE RAILROAD COMPANY – CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION EXEMPTION – LINE OF RAILROAD IN TOOELE COUNTY, UTAH

Caption from the Board’s record.

18 filings, 8 decisions and 60 environmental comments observed here; last checked 10 Oct 2026, 21:36 UTC; last new entry 31 Aug 2026, 20:43 UTC.

Cite View on stb.gov

Entries

By type (7)
Newest first · oldest first
  1. served (printed as 5/6/2025)
    Decision
    52585--
    PROVIDED NOTICE THAT COURT ACTION WAS INSTITUTED ON MAY 1, 2025, IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT, SEEKING JUDICIAL REVIEW OF AN APRIL 1, 2024 DECISION.
    in the court-action register
  2. served (printed as 3/3/2025)
    Decision
    52381Entire Board
    DENIED A PETITION TO RECONSIDER THE BOARD’S APRIL 1, 2024 DECISION, WHICH GRANTED SAVAGE TOOELE RAILROAD COMPANY AUTHORITY TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES OF RAIL LINE IN TOOELE COUNTY, UTAH.
  3. (printed as 5/10/2024)
    Reply
    308301Reply
    Savage Tooele Railroad Company
  4. (printed as 4/24/2024)
    Letter
    308240Letter
    Savage Tooele Railroad Company
  5. (printed as 4/23/2024)
    Motion
    308234Petition For Reconsideration
    Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, Erda Community Association, Sid Atkin, and Kyle Mathews
  6. (printed as 4/5/2024)
    Section
    308165Section 5 Summary
    Surface Transportation Board
  7. served (printed as 4/1/2024)
    Decision
    52080Entire Board
    AUTHORIZED SAVAGE TOOELE RAILROAD COMPANY TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES OF RAIL LINE IN TOOELE COUNTY UTAH, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION CONDITIONS.
  8. served (printed as 3/1/2024)
    Decision
    51992Director, Office Of Environmental Analysis
    PROVIDED A FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND RESPONSE TO COMMENTS ON A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A LINE OF RAILROAD BY THE SAVAGE TOOELE RAILROAD COMPANY IN TOOELE COUNTY, UTAH.
  9. (printed as 2/27/2024)
    Letter
    308013Letter
    Savage Tooele Railroad Company
  10. (printed as 1/31/2024)
    Comment
    EI-33299Utah Inland Port Authority
    Ben Hart · Salt Lake City, UT
  11. (printed as 11/27/2023)
    Comment
    EI-34053Utah SHPO
    SHPO Concurrence
    Ryan McGrath · Salt Lake City, UT
  12. (printed as 11/16/2023)
    Comment
    EO-4035Chris Merritt
  13. (printed as 11/16/2023)
    Comment
    EO-4020Utah SHPO
    Chris Merritt
  14. (printed as 11/6/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33156Thomas Wilcox
    Washington, DC
  15. (printed as 11/1/2023)
    Letter
    307378Letter
    Surface Transportation Board
  16. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33148Savage Tooele Railroad Company
    Washington, DC
  17. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33147FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake
    Please see attached PDF
    Rob Dubuc · Salt Lake City, UT
  18. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33146Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment
    SLC, UT
  19. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33145Larry Dean
    I agree with the comments from the Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, the Great Basin Water Network, the Great Salt Lake Audubon, and the Center for Biodiversity.
    Salt Lake City, UT
  20. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33144Melinda McIlwaine
    I support the comments made in docket number FD 36616 by several environmental groups including Great Salt Lake Audubon, Physicians for a Healthy Environment and the Center for Biological Diversity. In the interests of air quality, wildlife especially migrating birds and the future of the great Salt Lake itself we cannot continue development of these wetlands.
    Salt Lake City, UT
  21. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33143Gary E. Hanneman
    As a resident, downwinder, and an environmentally concern citizen I am in total agreement of the comments submitted by the Utah Physicians For a Healthy Environment and others. I totally and fully endorse them.
    Millcreek, UT
  22. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33142Liesa Manuel
    I am a Salt Lake City resident. I wish to add my voice in opposition to this outrageous plan to add further injury to the wetlands surrounding the Great Salt Lake. The EPA should consider the cumulative effects of the development projects, both existing, and planned, surrounding the Lake. I defer to the expertise of the Center for Biological Diversity, and Physicians for a Healthy Environment et al, in their assertion that "The Draft EA fails to acknowledge that the true purpose of this rail line is to incentivize development of over 35 million square feet of industrial development on land that is currently open space, uplands, playa and wetlands and in some places less than a mile from Great Salt Lake, a critical water body on the verge of ecological collapse." The need for additional warehouse space is questionable in itself, but the need to cite huge projects in such sensitive areas does not exist. (The economic benefit to the community has not been explained.) Please note the proximity of the Utah Inland Port in Salt Lake City and a proposed project in in nearby Grantsville. The obvious harm is first to wildlife habitat, either by loss of land area or from toxic storm water run-off. However, the harm to air quality and quiet enjoyment of life caused by probably thousands of diesel trucks traveling daily on inadequate rural roads would degrade entire human communities. Please deny this application.
    SLC, UT
  23. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33141Environmental Caucus
    I agree completely with the critique of the Draft EA submitted by: Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, Great Salt Lake Audubon, the Great Basin Water Network, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Youth Coalition for Great Salt Lake. Please deny this project, or at the very least require a full EIS . The Draft EA is profoundly incomplete, riddled with contradictions, and a denial of the impact the project will have on the most affected communities and the most heavily populated communities of Utah. This project should be rejected for the following reasons. 1. Stated Purpose and Need are contrary to STB's statutory obligation. 2. The Draft EA Fails to Inform the Public of Significant Environmental Consequences 3.The Draft EA Fails to Disclose the Project’s Purpose and Effect of Increasing Industrial Development 4.The Proposed Savage Tooele Rail Line is Contrary to the Public Interest 5.The Draft EA Fails to Consider Upstream and Downstream Environmental/Public Health Consequences 6.Claims of Reducing Truck Traffic and Pollution Defy Reason and Empirical Evidence 7.The Savage Tooele Rail Line Would Dramatically Degrade Quality of Life in Adjacent Communities 8.Air Quality/Public Health Impact Would Not be “De Minimis” 9.Inadequate assessment of harms to biological resources 10.The Draft EA Fails to Assess Cumulative Impacts 11.Meaningful Discussion of Climate Change Impacts Is Lacking. 12.Utah Drought Cannot Sustain This Level of Industrial Development 13.The Draft EA is Inherently Contradictory 14.Voluntary Measures Provide No Public Protection 15.Tooele County is Not in Need of Employment Stimulus Please examine closely the comments of these organizations. The environmental, public health, and quality of life expense of thousands of people in the Salt Lake Valley should not be compromised for the economic benefit of a small number of developers. Sincerely, Monica Hilding Environmental Caucus Chair
    Monica Hilding · Slc, UT
  24. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33140Joan M Gregory
    I am writing to endorse the comments (attached) which were submitted by Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, Great Salt Lake Audubon, Great Basin Water Network, Center for Biological Diversity, and The Youth Coalition for Great Salt Lake, regarding the: Draft Environmental Assessment Docket No. FD 36616 – Savage Tooele Railroad Company – Construction and Operation – Line of Railroad in Tooele County, Utah.
    Salt Lake City, UT
  25. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33139Malin Moench
    I fully endorse the comments submitted in this docket by Utah Physicians for a HealthyEnvironment, et al., regarding the Draft Environmental Assessment Docket No. FD 36616 – Savage Tooele Railroad Company – Construction and Operation – Line of Railroad in Tooele County, Utah. Building this line would harm wetlands critical to the survival of the Great Salt Lake which is in imminent danger of collapse. It would also pollute the air in Tooele County which already violates EPA standards by incentivizing the building of massive warehouse farms all served by diesel semi trucks emitting far more PM2.5 and Nix than is currently emitted in the county.
    Holladay, UT
  26. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33138Courtney Henley
    Please do not approve this rail project. The Savage Tooele Railroad is part of a larger conspiracy to sacrifice for profit the life span and well being of the millions of people and animals that live around the Great Salt Lake basin. We have the worst air pollution in the world at times due to cold temperature inversions. The ozone is horrible. Industrial development is hastening the disappearance of the Great Salt Lake. When the dry lake bed blows into the lungs of millions of people the catastrophic health consequences of developments like the Savage Tooele Railroad will become even greater. This may not be part of the environmental assessment, but the whole business plan of the Railroad and the Utah Inland Port Authority is a bust. The Authority was created on the last night of the Utah State Legislative session in 2018 and it is a textbook example of graft. Handing money out to well connected develpers hand over fist. There is no cogent purpose for a rail line through Tooele. The proposed approval of STR’s construction and operation of 11 miles of a new rail line in Tooele County would be a large contributor to a cascade of development consequences having far reaching, undesirable effects, not only there, but throughout the major urban areas of the Wasatch Front where 80% of Utah’s population, over 2.5 million people live. The Draft EA fails to acknowledge that the true purpose of this rail line is to incentivize development of over 35 million square feet of industrial development on land that is currently open space, uplands, playa and wetlands and in some places less than a mile from Great Salt Lake, a critical water body on the verge of ecological collapse. The EA does not take a hard look at the consequences of this, in a valley that is facing a growing environmental crisis with regard to air pollution, and water quality and quantity.
    Salt Lake City, UT
  27. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33135EPA Region 8
    Melissa McCoy · Denver, CO
  28. (printed as 10/30/2023)
    Comment
    EO-3849Erda City Council
    Jess Bird
  29. (printed as 10/29/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33132City of Erda
    Jess Bird · Erda, UT
  30. (printed as 10/28/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33133World Trade Center Utah
    See attached letter from World Trade Center Utah Chief Executive Officer, Jonathan Freedman
    Troy Keller · Salt Lake CIty, UT
  31. (printed as 10/27/2023)
    Comment
    EI-34054US EPA Region 8
    Denver, CO
  32. (printed as 10/26/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33131Salt Lake Chamber
    Salt Lake City, UT
  33. (printed as 10/26/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33129Grantsville City
    Jesse Wilson · Grantsville, UT
  34. (printed as 10/25/2023)
    Letter
    307347Letter
    Honorable Burgess Owens, Honorable Blake D. Moore , Honorable John Curtis
  35. (printed as 10/25/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33127Representatives: Burgess Owens, Blake D. Moore, John Curtis
    Washington, DC
  36. (printed as 10/24/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33097Sid Atkin
    The proposed rail line is entirely too close to my home. Practically on the other side of my property line. This will negatively affect me and my neighbors in many ways. Why does this have to be built so close to private residences? There is going to be so much noise pollution from trains going by. Safety hazards of trains not being able to stop quickly being so near to houses. I also fear what might happen to the ground water that supplies my well, if an industrial chemical was to accidentally spill from a rail car. Surely there are regulations that new rail lines should be set back and not be built so close to private property. If you have to run a rail line, run it through the industrial area, not near neighborhoods.
    Grantsville, UT
  37. (printed as 10/13/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33091Christopher Howard
    Please see attached word document. If your unable to see the document for any reason please let me know at the email address above. christopherh308@gmail.com Thank You!
    Grantsville, UT
  38. (printed as 10/11/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33085LD
    Utah’s ozone violation getting worse? A Salt Lake Tribune article reports that the EPA is likely to move Utah’s non-attainment status for ozone pollution from “moderate” to “serious.” It’s worth also noting that the EPA’s standards for ozone do not reflect the threats to public health as outlined in the majority of the medical literature. So we are in violation of a standard already set too low. Ozone is formed when heat and sunlight cause chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Levels are often higher in the summertime because of sun exposure and higher temperatures. Ozone's health hazards are not only related to the lungs and respiratory disease, which are often the only health consequences mentioned in relation to ozone. Like particulate pollution (PM), ozone causes systemic inflammation and body wide organ dysfunction. The list of diseases ozone is connected to is almost as extensive as those connected to PM. Air purifiers can capture much of the PM pollution, but unfortunately, not much of ozone pollution. The state's priorities don’t align with the publics on this issue. Rather than targeting polluters, they attempted to actually get the EPA to waive the standard for Utah. Rather than investing in and prioritizing mass transit, the state is approving highway expansions. We’re also seeing the rapid expansion of the Utah Inland Port across the state. A state putting so many residents at risk with extreme ozone pollution should not be tying its economy to diesel transportation. We saw state legislators pass a fee for residents with electric vehicles, actually de-incentivizing one of the few individual actions available to residents to reduce their own ozone impact.
    Berkeley, CA
  39. (printed as 10/11/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33084Katie Pappas
    I’m deeply concerned with the way the impacts of this project are being presented. While the report may follow your criteria and show minimal environmental impact of this project, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Rehabilitation and expansion of this short rail line will not occur in a vacuum. It will enable and support increased industrial development, warehousing and diesel traffic with resulting environmental and human impacts. The projects it enables will not receive the same scrutiny and oversight and they are occurring in an area already facing huge development pressure and water scarcity, The nearby GSL and its wetlands will be further impacted by the development this will inevitably lead to. With the climate change crisis upon us, we can no longer afford to look at these projects in isolation. We must consider the big picture and the long-term consequences of their approval. Thank you
    Salt Lake City, UT
  40. (printed as 10/5/2023)
    Comment
    EI-33076Lyle A Lawton
    Depending on the time of day, the volume of traffic could be substantially greater than the amount listed in the Draft Enviromental Assessment. Rush hour traffic is almost always a constant flow resulting in far greater number of vehicles then in the assessment.
    Grantsville, UT
  41. served (printed as 9/29/2023)
    Decision
    51876Director, Office Of Environmental Analysis
    PROVIDED A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION BY THE SAVAGE TOOELE RAILROAD COMPANY OF APPROXIMATELY 11 MILES OF RAILROAD LINE IN TOOELE COUNTY, UTAH.
  42. (printed as 6/29/2023)
    Supplement
    306782Modify/Supplement Prior Filing Or The Record
    Savage Tooele Railroad Company
  43. (printed as 6/29/2023)
    Comment
    EI-34049Thomas Wilcox
    petition changes
    Washington, DC
  44. (printed as 5/1/2023)
    Comment
    EI-34050Utah DOT
    salt ake city, UT
  45. served (printed as 3/30/2023)
    Decision
    51538Entire Board
    DENIED SAVAGE TOOELE RAILROAD COMPANY’S REQUEST THAT THE BOARD PRELIMINARILY ADDRESS THE TRANSPORTATION MERITS OF A PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION TRANSACTION BEFORE THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS IS COMPLETE.
  46. (printed as 3/14/2023)
    Comment
    EO-4031Utah SHPO
    Chris Merritt
  47. (printed as 1/17/2023)
    Supplement
    305990Modify/Supplement Prior Filing Or The Record
    Savage Tooele Railroad Company
  48. (printed as 1/11/2023)
    Comment
    EO-3786OEA
  49. (printed as 1/10/2023)
    Comment
    EO-3781Law Office of Thomas Wilcox, LLC
    Thomas Wilcox
  50. (printed as 12/15/2022)
    Comment
    EI-34043Thomas Wilcox
    Applicant provided Corps Data
    Washington, DC
  51. (printed as 12/5/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32741Law Office of Thomas Wilcox, LLC
    Thomas Wilcox · WASHINGTON, DC
  52. (printed as 12/1/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32705Representative Douglas Sagers
    Tooele, UT
  53. (printed as 11/26/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32699Kyle Mathews
    I oppose and object to this project in the utmost way. The implications and cons by FAR out weigh the pros! In no way shape or form will this be of any advantage to the local communities. In fact, it will only create problems logistically, crossing several roads that are close to the end of the line on this project and you can be assured, no matter how much the Romney’s say it will not be a problem, we can all be certain that there will be problems with trains stopped on major highways and blocking traffic for who knows how long. It will be traversing through wet lands that are extremely precious to our community and environment in general. We cannot afford to lose any more of our precious wet land to frivolous development from developers that have no concern other than to line their pockets at the expense of the environment and the community. There has NOT been one person that I have talked to in the community that thinks this is a good option or will be an advantage to the community. We as a community have seen nothing but crooked, deceitful, ways and intentions from The Romney Group, we have ZERO interest giving up the things discussed by this letter and other letters I have read that have been submitted in opposition of this project, for The Romney Group to further line their pockets at the expense of the local community. The Romney Group are NOT the kind of people that we would choose to have in our community EVEN IF we approved of this project. They have skirted around laws and even gotten laws changed, literally for a 3-month period, so they could proceed with their crooked ways. I could go on with the unethical things they have done just to get to the point that they are at now, I cannot emphasize enough how much we DO NOT want the Romney’s anywhere near this valley!! I know that that is not part of your decision making as the STB but it is an important factor for our community as citizens and we ask that you REJECT/DENY approval this project.
    UT, UT
  54. (printed as 11/26/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32698Friends of Great Salt Lake
    Salt Lake City, UT
  55. (printed as 11/14/2022)
    Comment
    EI-34047Thomas Wilcox
    Washington, DC
  56. (printed as 11/13/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32685Utah Environmental Caucus
    The rail spur is designed to make Romney's warehouse farm more profitable - but would do tremendous harm by among other things going through/next to people's back yards. It would harm high functioning wetlands and would enable development of millions of new square feet of warehouse space that would cause thousands of additional tons of diesel pollution in an area that already is not in attainment of federal air quality standards. And it would put thousands of new trucks on the roads in Tooele County. All in all, a terrible project that will cause public harm and is not in the public interest.
    Monica Hilding · Salt Lake City, UT
  57. (printed as 11/11/2022)
    Comment
    EI-34044Savage
    CRISI Grant info
    Phillip Hoskins · Midvale, UT
  58. (printed as 11/8/2022)
    Comment
    EI-34045Savage
    alternative files
    Phillip Hoslins · Midvale, UT
  59. (printed as 11/7/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32684Tooele County Health Department
    There are a couple of concerns about this proposed rail line. 1) I know that 15 or 20 years ago a proposed subdivision that bordered the old rail line was denied approval by the planning commission due to elevated lead levels (above the residential limit for lead). The soil sampling was performed along the rail line north of Erda Way. 2) I think that an active rail line crossing two major roadways and going through housing developments will potentially cause traffic concerns and will generate complaints to the county.
    Bryan Slade - Environmental Health Director · Tooele, UT
  60. (printed as 11/3/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32659U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Please see the attached scoping comments for the Savage Tooele Railroad Project.
    VelRey Lozano · Denver, CO
  61. (printed as 11/2/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32658Utah Department of Transportation
    Jesse Sweeten · Salt Lake City, UT
  62. (printed as 10/28/2022)
    Comment
    EI-34051Utah SHPO
    Christopher Hansen · Salt Lake City, UT
  63. (printed as 10/27/2022)
    Comment
    EO-4021Utah SHPO
    Chris Merritt
  64. (printed as 10/25/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32652Brems Law on behalf of Erda City
    Erda, UT
  65. (printed as 10/16/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32645Tooele County EMS Council
    Tooele County EMS
    Regina Nelson · Tooele, UT
  66. (printed as 10/12/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32647Tooele County
    As part of the environmental assessment, we would recommend consideration of a grade-separated crossing on State Route 138 (SR138). Traffic patterns, safety concerns, and vehicle delays due to rail crossing may necessitate a grade-separated crossing.
    James Welch · Tooele, UT
  67. (printed as 10/12/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32646BIA-Western Region
    On behalf of Acting Regional Director Jessie Durham, The BIA-Western Region has no issues, comments, or concerns related to the subject project. The nearest reservation is approximately 100 miles away; no jurisdiction or issues related to tribal trust land.
    Chip Lewis · Phoenix, AZ
  68. (printed as 10/4/2022)
    Comment
    EO-4023Agency Letter example
  69. (printed as 9/20/2022)
    Supplement
    305352Modify/Supplement Prior Filing Or The Record
    Savage Tooele Railroad
  70. served (printed as 9/7/2022)
    Decision
    51407Director Of Proceedings
    GRANTED A MOTION FOR A ONE WEEK EXTENSION OF THE DATE FOR SUBMITTING A VERIFIED SUPPLEMENT TO THE PETITION FOR EXEMPTION.
  71. (printed as 9/2/2022)
    Request
    305232Request For Extension Of Time
    Savage Tooele Railroad Company
  72. (printed as 8/30/2022)
    Letter
    305205Letter
    Surface Transportation Board
  73. (printed as 8/30/2022)
    Letter
    305204Letter
    Surface Transportation Board
  74. served (printed as 8/24/2022)
    Decision
    51389Director Of Proceedings
    DIRECTED SAVAGE TOOELE RAILROAD COMPANY TO FILE A VERIFIED SUPPLEMENT BY SEPTEMBER 13, 2022, AND TO SERVE A COPY OF THE VERIFIED SUPPLEMENT AND THIS DECISION ON UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY.
  75. (printed as 8/16/2022)
    Comment
    EO-4032file
  76. (printed as 7/28/2022)
    Letter
    305061Letter
    Honorable Chris Stewart
  77. (printed as 7/20/2022)
    Statement
    305021Support Statement
    Utah Department of Transportation, State of Utah
  78. (printed as 7/19/2022)
    Comment
    EO-3704Thomas A. Wilcox
  79. (printed as 7/18/2022)
    Letter
    305010Letter
    Honorable John Curtis
  80. (printed as 7/18/2022)
    Statement
    305009Support Statement
    World Trade Center Utah
  81. (printed as 7/1/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32092Thomas Wilcox
    Washington, DC
  82. (printed as 6/30/2022)
    Motion
    304889Petition For Exemption
    Savage Tooele Railroad Company
  83. (printed as 6/28/2022)
    Comment
    EI-34046Thomas Wilcox
    voluntary mitigation
    Washington, DC
  84. (printed as 5/24/2022)
    Comment
    EO-3750Law Office of Thomas W. Wilcox, LLC
    Thomas W. Wilcox
  85. (printed as 5/20/2022)
    Comment
    EI-32700Law Office of Thomas W. Wilcox, LLC
    Request for Waiver of 6 Month Pre-filing Notice Requirement under 49 C.F.R. §1105.10(a)(1)
    Thomas W. Wilcox · Washington, DC
  86. (printed as 11/2/2021)
    Comment
    EI-32660Center for Biological Diversity
    Deeda Seed · WDC, DC