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STB Releases Environmental Report on CPKC Merger As Final Decision Nears

The report found that the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger would have few adverse impacts on the environment. A final decision is expected in 30 days. Photo by Steve Barry.

STB Releases Environmental Report on CPKC Merger As Final Decision Nears

By Justin Franz 

WASHINGTON — The fate of the first Class I railroad merger in a generation should be known 30 days from now. 

On Friday, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board issued a massive Environmental Impact Statement about the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger. The report was the final hurdle before the federal board could issue its decision, which is expected 30 days from now in late February. 

The final report — a three-volume document measuring well over 5,000 pages — appeared to echo much of what was found in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement released last year, which suggested the merger would have few adverse impacts on the environment. The document went far beyond just how the merger would impact wildlife, air and water quality and other natural concerns, but also how it would impact communities along the combined system. The report noted that a combined CP-KCS system would likely result in an increase in rail traffic in places like Illinois and Iowa, but that crossing wait times would not dramatically increase. Nor would safety decrease in these places. It also noted that the merger had the potential to remove some traffic from highways in the region as more freight traveled by rail. 

The STB was legally not able to issue a final ruling on the merger until this EIS came out. Now it must wait at least 30 days before issuing its final decision — one that will permanently alter the North American railroad map. 

This article was posted on: January 27, 2023