SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday withdrew its approval of a right-of-way permit that would have allowed the construction of a railroad project through about 12 miles (19 kilometers) of roadless, protected forest in northeastern Utah.
It would allow them to access larger markets and ultimately sell to refineries near the Gulf of Mexico.
An attempt to reach the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, which is spearheading the project, was unsuccessful Wednesday evening.
In the August ruling, the Washington, D.C.-based appeals court decided that a 2021 environmental impact statement and opinion from the federal Surface Transportation Board were rushed and violated federal laws.
The Forest Service's decision Wednesday to withdraw its approval was based on the appeals court ruling, but Ashley National Forest Supervisor Susan Eickhoff said the agency could issue a new decision if deficiencies in the environmental impact statement are addressed.
Persons:
“, Ted Zukoski, Susan Eickhoff
Organizations:
LAKE CITY, U.S . Forest Service, Wednesday, Railway, Center for Biological Diversity, County Infrastructure Coalition, D.C, Transportation Board, National
Locations:
U.S, Utah, Ashley, Uinta, Gulf of Mexico, Colorado, Gulf, Washington, Eagle