Submission Number: UBR-DEIS-00372 -- Oral Comment at Public Meeting 

Received: 12/1/2020 12:00:00 AM
Commenter: Representative Elizabeth Weight
Organization: Utah House of Representatives
State: 

Agency: STB
Initiative: Uinta Basin Railway EIS
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
Thank you.· Okay. I am Representative Elizabeth Weight.· I represent in District 31, which is in West Valley City and I am with, of course, the -- the Utah House of
Representatives.· But I did want to clarify that I am speaking as a state representative, not as a voice of the body of the legislature or the house of representatives.· So in that respect, it's a somewhat independent expression.

My expressions and my comments have primarily to do with my appreciation for the environmental impact statement process.· I am seeing that -- well, and I just want to -- to comment on how much value I believe there is in the process of completing the entire impact analysis.· I've looked through the table of contents.· I have not had a chance to review the entire analysis, but I can see the extent.· And I was aware of how extensive and inclusive it was with different government agencies at the federal level and the state level and including other entities including sovereign nation entities and local input.· And so I appreciate all of the steps in that process.

For that reason, I'm looking at a page or two from the request for -- the petition for exemption from the prior approval requirements submitted by the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition.· My comment to that is that I -- I understand that they're making this request on the condition that the -- the Board grant the request, subject to the completion of its environmental review process.· But I can't see anything in the request that would exempt it from waiting for the entire process, including the prior approval requirements to be entirely met.

So I -- I guess what I'm -- what I'm expressing is that in this process where there are so many considerations, where there is so much potential for disruption of environment and different elements in the environment as well as potential for and need to really consider all of the -- the hazards, including the whole concept of possibility of denial of the permit.

[pause]

Okay.· I urge the board to deny the request for the waiver of the filing fee and for the exemption from the prior approval requirements.· I would like to see the whole process
proceed as outlined, regardless of this request.

And at this time, thank you for the opportunity to comment, and I'll be submitting an online one, as well.· Thank you.