Submission Number: UBR-DEIS-00048 

Received: 11/21/2020 10:10:02 AM
Commenter: Allan Smith
Organization: Utah Royalty Owners Association
State: Utah

Agency: STB
Initiative: Uinta Basin Railway EIS
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
UTAH ROYALTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION’S (UTROA) COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT Environmental Impact Statement (EIS] PROPOSED UINTA BASIN RAILWAY TO THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD’S OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS (OEA) To Whom it May Concern: As President of the Utah Royalty Owners Association I submitted our support for the Seven County Infrastructure Committee (SCIC) proposal to build a rail line connecting the Uinta Basin with nation’s interstate rail system both orally and written at the Scoping meeting on July 18th, 2019 in Roosevelt, UT.We favored the Indian Canyon Alternative, but now we favor the Whitmore Park Alternative because the OEA, through the scoping meetings and consultation with public, government agencies, tribes, affected farmers, ranchers, and private residences has addressed many of the noted adverse impacts, such as impacts to some sensitive habitats and residential areas. The Uinta Basin Railway project is the most important socioeconomic event affecting us and would provide economic stability, well-paying jobs from construction and operation of the rail line, consistent, all-weather freight in to the Basin like Frack Sand, oil industry and farm machinery plus incentivize new businesses to come to the Uinta Basin providing an increased tax revenue. Our Association is proud of our Ute Indian Tribe neighbors for being in favor and part of the Uinta Basin Railway which will safely transport Yellow and Black Crude Oil to more refineries and markets not presently available. We have reviewed the affected Environmental Consequences addressed in Sec 3.1-3.15 and have full confidence that the proposed rail line can be built and operated if the actions noted in these sections are followed. Thanks for the opportunity to submit our comments and we await the final EIS and a favorable final decision. Sincerely, Allan E. Smith, UTROA PO Box 1292 Roosevelt, UT 84066 aesmith@ubtanet.com