Comment EI-33672
Received or sent (printed as 1/28/2025)
I am writing in opposition to the exemption from regulation of the lease of Union Pacific\'s trainyard and operations of the Rail Line in Eugene, Springfield and Marcola, OR and the Coos Bay Industrial Lead to Central Oregon & Pacific. As these Rail Lines cross the Willamette River and other significant areas of environmental concern, such as the West Eugene Wetlands, the potential impacts of unsafe operation on degrading infrastructure are enormous. Two recent local accidents by Portland & Western highlight the safety concerns of non-Class I operations: January 4, 2025 trestle collapse in Corvallis, OR releasing two car\'s worth of urea into the Mary\'s River and the fatal accident on Nov 1, 2024 which crushed to death, Colton Brant, 29 years old, when a log car derailed in Eugene. Given the context of these recent disasters, I ask that the exemption from regulation of this lease not be permitted. Skill and adequate numbers of personnel, as required for Class I operation, must be retained to safely maintain track and manage the extremely dangerous loads and routes passing through the Eugene community and surrounding environment. The consequences of failure are too great: impacting tourism, groundwater, the hunting and fishing industries, and the numerous businesses served by the railways and the river and wetlands. CC: Parties of Record
Submitted by: Alison Coluccio · Eugene, OR
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-36818/comment/EI-33672 · back to the docket sheet