Surface Transportation Board to host public scoping meeting

BELVIDERE – Great Lakes Basin Transportation, Inc. (GLBT) plans to file a request with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) seeking authority to construct and operate an approximately 278-mile rail line.
According to GLBT, the proposed rail line would extend generally from La Porte, Ind. through Illinois to Milton, Wis. and would connect with existing Class I railroads.
The Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the proposed rail line.
OEA will hold a public scoping meeting to provide Boone County with opportunities to learn more about the project and provide input on the environmental review process.
The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 19 at the Community Building Complex of Boone County Auditorium, located at 111 W. First St. in Belvidere.
Additionally, OEA will host an online public meeting on April 27 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central Time. Interested parties may register for the online public meeting through the project website at www.GreatLakesBasinRailEIS.com under “Online Meeting Registration.”
Interested parties are invited to file written comments by May 16, to assure full consideration during the scoping process.
For more information including how to file written comments, please visit the Board-sponsored website at: www.GreatLakesBasinRailEIS.com.