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3/19/2021
The Colorado, Midland & Pacific Railway Co. (CMPR) has asked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to restrict the railroad's proposed lease of the Tennessee Pass Line to prevent its use for the transportation of crude oil, coal and hazardous commodities.
The STB is currently considering a notice of exemption to permit CMPR to lease the 163-mile rail line in Colorado from Union Pacific Railroad. CMPR is a subsidiary of Rio Grande Pacific Corp., which has stated the company has no plan to operate oil trains over the Tennessee Pass.
Still, questions have been raised by citizens groups and others concerned that the railroad will use the line to transport crude, coal or hazardous materials. A number of parties have filed comments expressing opposition to the lease because of those concerns.
"These erroneous contentions are being made notwithstanding [our] emphatic statements that CMPR has no intent, much less ability, to transport these commodities over the line due to features of the line that make it logistically impractical to do so," CMPR's amended filing states. "For example, the line has more than 11 miles of 3% grade."
To dispel the "unwarranted concerns," the CMPR filed an amendment with the STB to place the restrictions on the lease.
"In so doing, CMPR will be authorized only to transport passengers and general commodities, except crude oil, coal and hazardous commodities over the line," the amended filing states. "While limitations on the scope of the commodities to be handled are not usually imposed, they are not unique."
The amended filing can be read here.