Submission Number: UBR-DEIS-00178 

Received: 12/7/2020 1:32:00 PM
Commenter: Russ Newsome
Organization: High Country Pizza & Deli
State: Utah

Agency: STB
Initiative: Uinta Basin Railway EIS
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
To whom it may concern: I am a small business owner in Roosevelt. My wife and I Own and operate High Country Pizza & Deli. We moved to Roosevelt and opened our restaurant in Sept. of 2018. Until that time we did not know much about the possible railway coming to the Basin. As we began to meet people around the area and hired local high school kids to work at the restaurant, we realized what kind of impact the railway would have on this community. Most of my employees have either parents or other family members in the gas and oil industry. I learned real quick how dependent this community is on the oil and gas industry. Wanting to learn more I sat in on a economic development meeting my first year here in the basin. At that meeting I met numerous other business owners throughout the community and they all have one goal in common, and that is the survival of our community. A railroad would not only help the oil and gas industry, but would help in the development and progress of bringing other industry to the Basin as well. Our community would not be completely dependent on oil. The Basin has so much more to offer. We have amazing people, a proud Ute Indian tribe, outstanding scenery and recreation and available land for future Industry. I do hope that all parties that are involved in the process of bringing the railroad to our community will look at all aspects of this project and see how much the railway would truly benefit this great community. Sincerely, Russ Newsome Owner High Country Pizza & Deli