STB releases draft environmental report for proposed CP-KCS merger

The Surface Transportation Board on Friday announced its Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) issued a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Kansas City Southern/Canadian Pacific merger.

The draft EIS analyzes the merger’s potential environmental impacts, including expected increases in rail traffic ranging from eight to about 14.4 additional trains per day on CP and KCS lines between Chicago and Laredo, Texas. The entire document can be downloaded via this link.

Based on its own independent environmental analysis and consultations with or input from federal, state and local agencies, tribes, organizations and the public, the OEA has concluded that — apart from train noise that could impact some locations — the proposed merger’s potential adverse impacts would be negligible, minor and/or temporary.

The OEA now is inviting individuals, agencies, organizations, tribes and other interested parties to submit comments on the draft EIS. Public meetings will be held on Sept. 12 in Itasca, Illinois; Sept. 13 in Davenport, Iowa; Sept. 14 in Excelsior Springs, Missouri; and Sept. 15 in Vidor, Texas. Online public meetings are scheduled for Sept. 7, 8 and 19.

The public meetings will cover only the environmental issues raised so far, OEA officials said in a press release. The STB will accept public comments on the draft EIS until Sept. 26.

The board also will hold separate public hearings on Sept. 28, 29 and 30 to review the proposed merger’s merits.