Final EIS Released for Green Eagle Railroad Project in Eagle Pass
The Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) has announced the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the proposed Green Eagle Railroad (GER) project in Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas.
The project involves the construction and operation of a 1.3-mile rail line in Eagle Pass. This line is part of the larger Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge project, which also includes a new commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crossing between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, and Eagle Pass, Texas.
Read the Final Environmental Impact Statement Below:
Combined Port of Entry for Rail and CMV Traffic
The proposed rail line and the CMV crossing would be built together as a single port of entry, facilitating freight rail and commercial vehicle traffic between Mexico and the United States.
Because the rail line requires a license from the Surface Transportation Board, the OEA analyzed the environmental impacts of both components together in the Final EIS.
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Public Comments and Agency Review
The Final EIS addresses substantive comments submitted by the public and various agencies during the review of the Draft EIS. These comments covered environmental, economic, and community concerns related to the project’s construction and operation.
The Final EIS is available to view or download on the project’s website at www.greeneaglerreis.com and on the Surface Transportation Board’s website at www.stb.gov under Docket No. FD 36652.
Next Steps in the Decision Process
Before deciding whether to grant GER authority to construct and operate the proposed rail line, the Board will review the Draft EIS, the Final EIS, all public comments, and the environmental mitigation measures recommended by OEA. The final decision will also consider the full transportation record and the project’s merits.
The Green Eagle Railroad project has been closely watched in Maverick County due to its potential impacts on trade, transportation, and the local environment. The release of the Final EIS marks a major step toward a final determination on the project’s future.
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