Comment EI-33689
Received or sent (printed as 1/31/2025)
I am submitting this comment as I am deeply concerned about Union Pacific\'s plan to lease the Eugene railyard to the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP). CORP’s employees lack the training, experience, and union protections of Union Pacific workers. As has been demonstrated time and time again, replacing skilled workers with less-experienced, non-union employees increases the risk of accidents and unsafe operations in our neighborhoods. Not only will leasing the railyard to CORP result in job losses for highly skilled workers, but it poses a threat to Eugene residents and environment. Notably, CORP’s mismanagement of the Coos Bay branch line shows a pattern of failure to maintain infrastructure and safeguard communities, with a track record demonstrating negligence in upholding safety, customer service, and environmental stewardship. Union Pacific’s unionized workers have the protections needed to push back against unsafe practices and hold the company accountable. CORP’s non-union employees won’t have the same ability to stand up for safety, leaving the door open for shortcuts and cost-cutting. Eugene residents deserve clean water, healthy soil, and safe communities, not increased pollution and weaker safety regulations. This is a dangerous lease, we need to prioritize public health and safety while preventing future disasters and contamination.
Submitted by: Kate Mills · 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-33689 · back to the docket sheet