SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD TO HOLD PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE WITH WASHINGTON STATE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION ON "NORTHERN COLUMBIA BASIN RAILROAD PROJECT"

[STBNews@xxxxxxxxxxx]

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>From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C.
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The Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced today that its Section of
Environmental Analysis (SEA) will hold a July 19, 2007 Public Open House
concerning the proposed "Northern Columbian Basin Railroad Project"
(Project).


              STB and the Washington State Department of Transportation
              (WSDOT) will hold the Thursday, July 19 Public Open House
              from 4:00--7:00 p.m. at the Grant County International
              Airport, 7810 Andrews Street, N.E., Moses Lake, Washington.
              The STB and WSDOT are working together as co-lead agencies
              for the environmental review of the Project, and the two
              agencies will co-host the Open House.


              The Public Open House will provide interested persons and
              parties the opportunity to learn about the proposed Project,
              view maps of the environmental-study area, meet with
              representatives from STB and WSDOT, and provide input on
              potential environmental impacts and possible alternatives to
              be evaluated in the STB-WSDOT environmental review.


              The purpose of the Project is to attract new rail-dependent
              businesses to the Moses Lake area and to encourage continued
              use and preservation of rail service in the region.  The
              three components of the proposed project include: building a
              new rail line from Wheeler Road to the area known as Parker
              Horn; improving existing track between Parker Horn and Grant
              County International Airport; and extending existing Columbia
              Basin Railroad track to industrial areas just south of the
              airport.


              For further information concerning the proposed Northern
              Columbia Basin Railroad Project, please contact Christa Dean,
              Attorney and SEA Project Manager, at (202) 245-0299,
              christa.dean@xxxxxxxxxxx, or Elizabeth Phinney, WSDOT Rail
              Environmental Manager, at (360) 705-7902,
              phinnee@xxxxxxxxxxxxx  Information is also available at the
              Project web site at:
              http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Rail/Freight/WheelerToSoapLakeRailEngineering.


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