USCG approves BNSF bridge plan

SANDPOINT — The U.S. Coast Guard issued a finding of no significant impact Thursday on BNSF Railway Co.’s plan to construct another set of bridges across Sand Creek and Lake Pend Oreille.

The finding, known as a FONSI in federal regulatory parlance, follows public hearings on the proposal in Ponderay in March.

Those in favor of the project spoke to the economic benefits of the bridges and urged regulators to expedite the environmental review. Those critical or opposed to the project called for a more rigorous analysis via an environmental impact statement. They also raised concerns about derailments jeopardizing water quality, fugitive coal dust and increased rail traffic in the Lake Pend Oreille corridor.

The Coast Guard noted that BNSF’s plan to prevent derailments and Bonner County’s Lake Pend Oreille Geographic Response Plan addressing various types of spills has been incorporated into the project’s final environmental assessment. The guard also held that the “current use of load profiling and dust suppressants has been shown to achieve at least an 85 percent reduction in fugitive coal dust and allow only trace amounts to be lost in transit, which are well below levels that could be harmful to human or ecological health,” the final EA said.

With regard to concerns over increased rail traffic, the Coast Guard said the maximum capacity of the rail line through Sandpoint and across the lake is approximately 79 trains per day, although average traffic on that line segment is approximately 60 trains per day. The guard further noted that the project does not add any origin or destination facilities, but would improve efficiency on that segment of rail.

The market conditions influencing rail traffic growth in the study area exist without construction of a second main line track and associated bridges. Adding a second main line track along this segment would not increase overall capacity of the rail line because there are other constraints on the main lines leading into the Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille area,” the final EA said.

The Coast Guard also ruled that the EA has been determined to be the appropriate form of environmental review.

“BNSF appreciates the thoughtful comments and constructive dialogue that was a part of this process. This project will reduce congestion, and help move our current freight traffic and future volumes more efficiently; this benefits all the products we carry and the passenger trains that run on our main line,” BNSF spokeswoman Courtney Wallace said on Thursday.

Wallace added that BNSF is mobilizing and is expected to begin upland work on railroad property between Sand Creek and Dog Beach. The work includes constructing site access of U.S. Highway 95 and building temporary and permanent trails that will keep the bike and pedestrian path open during construction.

Helen Yost of Wild Idaho Rising Tide released the following statement:

“Its brief decision explanation both promotes ongoing, industry excuses for BNSF’s $100 million gamble with the regional and global health and safety of air, water, climate, and economies, while ignoring and dismissing myriad citizen concerns about this railroad invasion of a significant North Idaho aquatic ecosystem.”

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.