Meetings on DM&E expansion set Nov. 13, 15

Hearings set Nov. 13 in Rochester; Nov. 15 in N. Kato

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Interested in attending a meeting on the Dakota Minnesota and Eastern coal train proposal along U.S. Highway 14 from Winona to Wyoming?

You'll have to drive a little bit or a bit more.

If you don't like the idea or want to know why people are against the expansion of the railroad, a meeting is set for Monday, Nov. 13 in Rochester.

The Citizens to Stop Coal Trains will hold a rally in Peace Plaza at 6 p.m. A town meeting to discuss the latest Surface Transportation Board (STB) report starts at 7 p.m. at the Marriott, across the street from Peace Plaza.

The City of Rochester has not agreed on a community partnership agreement with the railroad yet. Many cities along the proposed route have already done so.

The DM&E proposal was deemed financially sound by the STB last year.

The STB released a 5,000-page report called a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) earlier this fall.

The purpose of that report was to identify all impacts of coal trains including economic, health and environment, along the coal line.

The document's release triggered a 90-day public comment period allowing citizens alarmed about the effects of coal trains the chance to express concerns for public record.

Closer to home, DEIS public hearings on the proposal are set for Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the Best Western, 111 Range Street, in North Mankato. Identical format meetings will be held from 1-4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.

Federal authorities will have a transcriber at both meetings to ensure oral comments are accurately captured.

The DEIS report revealed that an area near Shag Road in rural New Ulm was under consideration for a staging yard. Such a facility would allow railroad cars to be disconnected and reconfigured into a new train. The yard could mean 300 jobs for the New Ulm area.

In October, The New Ulm City Council and the DM&E agreed on shared costs for the upgrading of crossings at 12 South and 16th South.

The DEIS report is available at public libraries in New Ulm and Mankato.

The opportunity for public response closes Jan. 5, 2001.

The City of Mankato is preparing a response to the DEIS reinforcing that an in-city route is not environmentally preferred.

It will also state that a flood wall analysis will be required for any in-city route to be considered.

Traffic, safety, sound and neighborhood preservation would also be important considerations, according to a city of Mankato website.

The STB will review input and complete a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), to be released next year.

The STB's final decision on the railroad's proposed expansion is expected shortly after that.

In 1997, the DM&E revealed a major construction plan to the STB known as the Powder River Basin Expansion Project. It involved construction of 300 miles of new rail and rehabilitation of 600 miles of existing line.

The DM&E planned to haul 23-100 million tons of coal per year from the Powder River Basin in eastern Wyoming to markets in the midwest and eastern U.S.

Last month, the Mankato City Council terminated a community partnership agreement with the DM&E.

The deciding authority is Surface Transportation Board, Victoria Rutson, Environmental Project Director, Finance Docket No. 33407, 1925 K Street Northwest, Room 715, Washington, DC 20423-001.

Visit www.stb.dot.gov