The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Uinta Basin Railway, clearing the path for a major oil infrastructure expansion across Utah despite years of legal and environmental opposition. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Uinta Basin Railway, clearing the path for a major oil infrastructure expansion across Utah despite years of legal and environmental opposition
A train transports freight on a common carrier line near Price, Utah, on 13 July 2023. Photograph: Rick Bowmer/AP

The unanimous 8-0 decision overturned a lower court’s ruling that had blocked the project due to what critics claimed was a narrow environmental review. Justices sided with a limited interpretation of federal obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act.

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The proposed Uinta Basin Railway will stretch 88 miles through northeastern Utah, enabling the transport of up to 350,000 barrels of crude oil daily to refineries on the Gulf Coast. The Surface Transportation Board approved the project in 2021.

Environmental Concerns Surround Uinta Basin Railway

Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, argued that the review failed to consider broader climate impacts and downstream pollution from refining. Colorado’s Eagle County also joined the lawsuit, citing risks to the Colorado River.

Despite these objections, the Court ruled that only “reasonably foreseeable” effects must be analyzed. This sets a precedent for narrower environmental assessments in future infrastructure proposals.

Critics say the decision undermines protections for vulnerable communities, especially rural and Indigenous populations living along potential spill zones. Environmental leaders warned that the ruling grants unchecked power to federal agencies.

Uinta Basin Railway Spurs Economic and Legal Shifts

Supporters—including seven Utah counties and infrastructure investors—view the project as a boost for regional oil production and market access. The Biden administration and the state of Utah backed the proposal, while fifteen other states opposed it.

Business groups applauded the decision, saying it will speed up regulatory timelines and eliminate costly delays. Justice Neil Gorsuch recused himself due to a conflict of interest involving a former client linked to the project.

With the Court’s approval, the Uinta Basin Railway may reshape future policy on fossil fuel logistics, environmental law, and national energy infrastructure.

Source: www.theguardian.com

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