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The Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) has applied to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) for two permits to use herbicides as part of the railroad’s vegetation management program.

If granted, one permit would allow the application of AquaMaster®, a glyphosate-based herbicide, at Anchorage yard; the other permit would cover the Fairbanks and Healy yards, as well as about 20 miles of nearby track along the Suntran, Fairbanks Airport and Eielson branch lines, ARRC officials said in a prepared statement.

As part of the permit process, ADEC will sponsor hearings on Feb. 18 and Feb. 22 for the public to comment on either or both permits. The agency also will accept written comments on the Anchorage permit until March 16 and the Healy/Fairbanks permit until March 21.

ARRC has tried to control vegetation management along its track with non-chemical methods, including mechanical brush cutting, manual labor, steam and burning, since 1983, according to the railroad.

"Despite these efforts, the volume and location of vegetation management along the track has resulted in stiff fines from the Federal Railroad Administration," ARRC officials said. "Adding chemical vegetation control to our non-chemical methods would greatly enhance the railroad’s ability to improve safety and comply with federal regulatory requirements."

In 2010, ARRC received a permit from ADEC to apply herbicide in a limited area. However, environmental groups opposed to herbicide use appealed ADEC's decision, and the permit case eventually wound up before the Alaska Supreme Court. The court allowed the permit to be enforced, and in July 2010, ARRC applied herbicide to limited areas between Seward and Indian.