Written by
Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern decided to combine in September 2021. They created Canadian Pacific Kansas City. This is the first U.S.-Mexico/Canada rail network. The Surface Transportation Board approved their merger application on November 23.
Surface Transportation Boards Office of Environmental Analysis is moving forward with their assessment of Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys’ (CPKC) potential impacts on the environment.
The public was allowed to comment on the proposed scope of OEAs environmental reviews of the proposal until January 3, 2022. Canadian Pacific–Kansas City Southern combination, CPKC. (In September 2021 the two Class I railroads merged; two months later the Surface Transportation Board received their merger application.
OEA received 492 comments in total. 49 were oral comments from six online scoping meetings, and 443 were written comments. Based on the feedback received and OEAs analysis, OEA has developed a Final Scope of Study for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which it will prepare.
The scope of the analysis will include:
Anticipated changes in level of operations on rail lines (for instance, an increase in average number of trains per day) for those rail line segments that meet or exceed the Boards thresholds for environmental review in 49 C.F.R. 1105.7(e).
Expected changes in activity at rail yards and intermodal facilities to the extent such changes may exceed the Boards thresholds for environmental analysis in 49 C.F.R. 1105.7(e).
Planned capital improvements, including new sidings, siding extensions, and installation of double track and industry track. There are 25 total projects, including 13 existing passing siding extensions and 10 passing siding additions. Also, approximately four miles worth of double track will be added to Blue Valley near Kansas City.; and the addition to approximately five miles of facility work track adjacent the International Freight Gateway intermodal terminal in Kansas City.
The EIS will also assess potential impacts of CPKC upon the environment. This includes: freight and passenger train capacity and safety, including hazardous material transport safety; roadway/rail-at-grade crossings, including safety and delay, and emergency respond delay; transportation systems; noise, air quality, climate change; energy, cultural resources; hazardous waste sites, natural resources, water ressources, and navigation; environmental justice; cumulative impacts; mitigation measures.
Based on OEA’s initial screening for topics relevant to the Proposed Acquisition and the fact no comments were received on topics relating to land use, recreation and geology, soils or aesthetics, the EIS will exclude them, OEA reported.
This spring, the OEA will release a draft EIS that addresses environmental issues. It also contains OEA’s preliminary recommendations regarding environmental mitigation measures. The document will then be made available for agency review for 45 days.
Next, the OEA will prepare a Final EIS. This final EIS addresses Draft EIS comments and makes any necessary revisions. It is expected to be completed by the end of this fall.
The Surface Transportation Board will consider the Draft EIS and the Final EIS when making its final decision about CPKC. Public comments can also be submitted. OEAs recommendations include recommendations for possible environmental mitigation.