The only thing keeping fossil fuel companies from increasing oil production in Utah’s Uinta Basin is access to refineries. A proposed 85-mile rail line connecting the Uinta Basin to the national rail network would allow oil trains to transport crude from Colorado to refineries on the Gulf Coast.
The Uinta Basin Railway would allow the area’s oil industry to increase its output significantly, up to 350,000 barrels daily. Ten trains would travel alongside the Colorado River daily, and carry 100 tanker cars of crude.
Opponents of the railway project sued to stop it. In August 2023, a federal appeals panel vacated a permit needed for constructing the railway. However, the Supreme Court reversed the decision.
Environmental Impacts Would Be Great
Proponents of the rail line say that it would solve the problems with transporting oil by rail by connecting the region to the national railway network. In reality, it would cause huge environmental impacts.
The Uinta Basin Railway is a fossil fuel project, and fossil fuels are the primary driver of climate change. The project would emit a tremendous amount of carbon dioxide. The Surface Transportation Board’s Environmental Impact Statement lists an increase in greenhouse gases as a “minor impact.” The rail line would cause up to 53 million tons of annual carbon emissions due to increased oil production in Utah.
A train derailment could dump crude oil into the Colorado River. An increase in rail traffic could cause a derailment every year, according to the EISt. An oil disaster in the Colorado River would be a catastrophe. The river provides drinking water for 40 million people, while supporting agriculture and hydropower.
“A spill from a massive oil train would affect everything downstream and have catastrophic, lingering effects,” says Hattie Johnson of American Whitewater, in a statement. “It’s a beautiful, remote section of river that provides an incredible experience, so just the impact of the train traffic itself would be concerning.”
The increased oil production from the Uinta Basin Railway would worsen air pollution in an area labeled as “marginal nonattainment.” The area has not met federal air quality standards for ozone, which causes lung issues.
Wildlife would be significantly impacted. Any habitat along the proposed rail line would be lost, while other habitats could be disturbed during construction. The rail line would be a barrier to wildlife movement. Vegetation would also be affected, as any of it along the rail line would be removed permanently. Vegetation in construction areas would be cleared or disturbed. A derailment could also trigger a wildfire, which would destroy more vegetation.
Big Oil’s Disregard for Environment and Safety
The Uinta Basin Railway project is an example of how fossil fuel companies disregard the environment for profit. There are three alternative areas for the project. The EIS mentions that Utah’s Office of Environmental Analysis concluded that the Whitmore Park Alternative would cause the least amount of significant environmental impacts. It would affect the smallest area of water resources and minimize impact on Great Sage-Grouse leks.
The proponents of the project continue to push for the Uinta Basin site despite the environmental risks mentioned. The Uinta Basin covers almost all of northeastern Utah. Building a railway in the area would derogate it. To protect the environment, raise your voice against this project—urge decision-makers to prioritize environmental health and seek alternative solutions.
Photo by Leo Sokolovsky on Unsplash
