The oil railway that launched a Supreme Court NEPA war
… In a case that will be argued Tuesday, the Supreme Court, minus Justice Neil Gorsuch, who recused himself, will consider whether the National Environmental Policy Act requires federal regulators to analyze the indirect impacts — namely, a likely increase in Uinta Basin drilling and Gulf refining capacity — that would stem from building the Utah railway. … the Supreme Court’s ruling, expected by early summer, is likely to redefine the scope of federal environmental and climate studies underpinning infrastructure projects nationwide. … Eagle County Commissioner Matt Scherr, an opponent of the Utah railway, said the project would increase the number of trains on the downstream track network, which would increase the number of derailments and spills his county — [which] has the potential to reach the Colorado River, which supplies drinking water to 40 million people in the West.
Related articles:
- Vail Daily (Avon, Colo.): Eagle County commissioners will meet at U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday for Uinta Basin case
- Colorado Public Radio: Today, US Supreme Court will hear Uinta oil train case that could limit bedrock environmental law
- Newsweek: Supreme Court to hear argument on new US rail line
- Real Vail: Opinion: OilTrain vs. SunTrain, who you got? Supreme Court set to tip the scales
- Center for Biological Diversity news release: Supreme Court hears arguments over Utah oil train in case challenging scope of nation’s landmark environmental law
- ABC News: What to look for in Supreme Court arguments over environmental regulation of Utah oil railway plan
