Comment EI-34280
Received or sent (printed as 8/26/2026)
After reviewing the proposed merger of the Union Pacific/Northfolk Southern merger, I wanted to note that a small portion of the Union Pacific's railroad crosses an area designated as the Casper Aquifer Protection Area (CAPA). This area is noted to be part of the recharge area for the Casper Aquifer. Where the railroad crosses the CAPA, surface contamination may threaten the quality of this drinking water source. The Casper Aquifer provides 50% of the water to City of Laramie residents and also provides a number or rural residents their domestic water supply in the area. The potential increase in train traffic and potential increase of hazardous materials that may be transported should be considered when evaluating environmental concerns. I have provided a map that illustrates the area where the railroad crosses the CAPA. The Planning Department is not opposed to this merger, nor does it believe there is a major threat to the Casper Aquifer if this merger is approved but simply wanted to provide these comments to be considered. Thanks, David Gertsch, Planning Director, Albany County, Wyoming
Submitted by: David Gertsch · Albany County Planning Department · Laramie, WY
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-36873/comment/EI-34280
File docketyard.org/document/5add7cb711b47dea084b7eb6c3449780dcd09a03f1aae25afa8db534400b617f.pdf · back to the docket sheet