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SJM110.....................................................by STATE AFFAIRS
CAMAS PRAIRIE RAIL NET TRACK - ABANDONED - Stating findings of the
Legislature and urging the federal Surface Transportation Board in the
United States Department of Transportation to reject any application for
rail abandonments by Camas Prairie Rail Net in Idaho that the Idaho Public
Utilities Commission, on behalf of this state, has determined through its
process to be adverse to the public interest; to request jurisdiction for
the railroad line abandonment cases be given to the states rather than the
federal Surface Transportation Board; and to request that the federal
Surface Transportation Board conduct a public hearing in the affected area
of Idaho, for the purpose of receiving both oral and written testimony on
the proposed abandonment.
03/07 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/09 Rpt prt - to 10th Ord
03/10 10th ord - ADOPTED - voice vote
Title apvd - to House
03/13 House intro - 1st rdg - to Transp
03/21 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/22 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/30 3rd rdg - ADOPTED, voice vote
Title apvd - to Senate
03/31 To enrol
04/03 Rpt enrol - Pres signed - Sp signed
04/04 To Secretary of State
SJM110
|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2000
IN THE SENATE
SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 110
BY STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
1 A JOINT MEMORIAL
2 TO THE FEDERAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD IN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
3 TRANSPORTATION, AND TO THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION REPRESENTING THE STATE
4 OF IDAHO IN THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
5 We, your Memorialists, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
6 State of Idaho assembled in the Second Regular Session of the Fifty-fifth
7 Idaho Legislature, do hereby respectfully represent that:
8 WHEREAS, freight rail transportation is an essential part of the economy
9 of the state of Idaho; and
10 WHEREAS, Camas Prairie Rail Net in Lewiston, Idaho has announced its
11 intention to abandon a portion of railroad track serving the Camas Prairie;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, the timing of this abandonment proposal is not only premature but
14 will likely have a great economic impact on the railroad shippers and
15 receivers in the area at the most inopportune time; and
16 WHEREAS, a continuation of rail abandonments could have a detrimental
17 effect on the Idaho transportation system and its future viability; and
18 WHEREAS, any further abandonment of railroad lines could divert companies
19 and jobs out of Idaho; and
20 WHEREAS, jobs and industries throughout the state of Idaho could be nega-
21 tively affected by the removal of railroad lines; and
22 WHEREAS, continued loss of railroad lines will reduce the ability of
23 Idaho's manufacturing, agriculture and retailers from receiving competitive
24 shipping rates; and
25 WHEREAS, a significant portion of Idaho's freight rail system could be
26 lost should these abandonments continue to be approved; and
27 WHEREAS, since the federal Surface Transportation Board has not shown any
28 sensitivity toward the needs and concerns of this state and its local communi-
29 ties; and
30 WHEREAS, many Idaho legislators, rail shippers and receivers, the United
31 Transportation Union, and the Idaho state AFL-CIO have announced their opposi-
32 tion to further abandonment of railroad lines in Idaho.
33 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Second Regular Ses-
34 sion of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Repre-
35 sentatives concurring therein, that we hereby urge the federal Surface Trans-
36 portation Board to reject any application for rail abandonments by Camas Prai-
37 rie Rail Net in Idaho that the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, on behalf of
38 this state, has determined through its process to be adverse to the public
39 interest.
40 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that because the Camas Prairie Rail Net line being
41 proposed for abandonment is of such great importance, we respectfully request
42 that the federal Surface Transportation Board conduct a public hearing in the
43 affected area of Idaho, for the purpose of receiving both oral and written
44 testimony.
2
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate be, and she is
2 hereby authorized and directed to forward a copy of this Memorial to the fed-
3 eral Surface Transportation Board in Washington, D.C., and to the congressio-
4 nal delegation representing the state of Idaho in the Congress of the United
5 States.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS10238
This memorial would transmit the Idaho Legislature's concerns of the
proposed intention of rail line abandonment by Camas Prairie Rail Net of
Lewiston and request to hold an abandonment hearing by the federal Surface
Transportation Board in the area affected. The continued abandonment of rail
lines in Idaho is having a detrimental effect on the transportation system of the
state.
The memorial also requests that the jurisdiction for rail line abandonment
cases be given to states rather than the federal Surface Transportation Board.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact to the state.
Contact
Sen. Marguerite McLaughlin 332-1357
Rep. Chuck Cuddy 332-1000
Rep. Dan Mader 332-1000
Rep. Tim Ridinger 332-1000
Dale Wheeler 467-1572
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE SJM 110