Final railroad merger impact statement released

A Canadian Pacific Train hauling cars of midwestern grain. (Media image courtesy of Canadian Pacific)

Washington — Regulators released their final draft of an environmental impact assessment for a proposed merger of railway companies Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern. If approved, the merger would increase Washington County’s daily train count by around 14.4 within three years, according to the assessment.

The document, published in three volumes totaling over 5,000 pages including appendices, making the federal Office of Environmental Analysis’ (OEA) recommendation to the Surface Transportation Board, which has the ultimate say on whether the proposed merger is approved.

“Making its final decision, the (Surface Transportation) Board will consider the entire record, including the record on the transportation merits, the Draft EIS, Final EIS, and all public and agency comments,” read a letter to readers early in the assessment packet. “In its final decision, the Board will decide whether the Proposed Acquisition should be authorized and, if so, what conditions, including environmental mitigation conditions, to impose.”

In its conclusions, the OEA signaled mostly optimism about the merger, which would create the first ever railway linking Canada, the U.S., and Mexico along one line.

There was one exception, however. While the draft version published last summer said noise from increased train traffic was a potential downside at some locations, the final version draws a more blunt conclusion.

“Most of the potential adverse impacts of the Proposed Acquisition, including impacts on grade crossing delay and emergency vehicles, would be negligible, minor, and/or temporary,” a summary portion of the document said. “However, train noise associated with increased rail traffic resulting from the Proposed Acquisition would result in adverse impacts on many residences and other locations that are sensitive to noise.”

A spokesperson said comments from the federal agency were not immediately available due to a technical issue preventing publication of a news release.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com