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PREVIOUSLY:  Great Redwood Trail Agency Uncovers Poorly Redacted Financial Data, Calls Bullshit on Coal Train Interests

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Press release from Congressman Jared Huffman’s Office:

Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) sent a letter to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chief of Section Cynthia T. Brown in support of the Great American Trail railbank and in opposition to other entities who filed interest in taking over the line.

“The complete lack of freight traffic on the line since 1998, high risk, and improbable restoration of the tracks for freight warrants abandonment and railbanking of the line from Willits to Humboldt Bay,” the members said it their letter. “We urge the STB to continue to give the GRTA/NCRA’s abandonment/railbank application full and fair consideration and reject the Notices of Intent to file.”

In the letter, the members called attention to one applicant of particular concern: the “North Coast Railroad Company”, which has proposed using the abandoned rail line to transport coal abroad through the Port of Humboldt.

“It is our understanding that this applicant has no ties to the North Coast of California nor experience with freight rail services but is seeking to haul coal across the functionally abandoned rail line for shipment abroad. Its egregious lack of transparency was further evidenced with its NOI [notice of intent] filing which included a bank statement that was at best misleading and at worst fraudulent. In the bank statement, the viewable beginning and ending balances appeared to be above $15 million. However, under further examination of the documentation, it was discovered that the average rotating balance of the account appears to be closer to $1,000,” the letter states.

In May, Rep. Huffman questioned Surface Transportation Board Chair Martin Oberman about his views on board reauthorizations during a House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing. Rep. Huffman’s line of questioning can be viewed here, and the full committee hearing can be viewed here. In September of 2021, Huffman and Rep. Mike Thompson (D- St. Helena) sent a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging him to deny federal funding for the coal train. 

The full letter can be viewed here or below:

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Cynthia T. Brown
Chief of Section
Administration Office of Proceedings
Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street, SW
Washington DC 20423

Re: Docket No. AB 1305X: North Coast Railroad Authority-Abandonment Exemption in Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt Counties, California.

Dear Ms. Brown:

We are writing in support of the Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA)/North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA)’s application for abandonment/railbanking and to express concern related to the Notices of Intent (NOI) to file Offers of Financial Assistance (OFA).

The Northwestern Pacific Railroad (NWP) has not operated for 24 years since winter storms devasted the tracks through the Eel River Canyon. The line has fallen into extreme disrepair. Geologic instability and slides have destroyed long stretches of track. Indeed, because of landslides the ground that used to support many track segments through the canyon are now simply gone, leaving the tracks hanging in the air high above the Eel River. While the State of California has authorized the use of the NWP tracks south of Windsor for passenger and freight, restoration of rail operations between Willits and Humboldt Bay for freight is clearly not feasible. The NCRA has previously attempted to bring that dilapidated freight rail back to life and failed.

The NCRA estimated it would cost $2.35 billion to rehabilitate the line, which would still remain prone to the exceedingly high maintenance costs it experienced during its former operation. The NCRA is seeking to railbank the tracks from Willits north for the Great Redwood Trail – a major recreation development authorized by the California legislature in October 2021. As a result of that legislation, the NCRA officially transitioned to the GRTA and is overseen by the California State Coastal Conservancy.

Three NOI to file OFA were submitted to take over the line and attempt to block the NCRA’s railbanking application. None of these entities operate freight rail or have engaged in interstate rail activities.

Two entities which submitted NOI operate primarily for tourism and recreation. Both Seeker Enterprises and the Mendocino Railway provide, or are seeking to provide, rail bike excursions. Mendocino Railway also provides passenger rail services; however, these are limited to excursion purposes. Neither the Surface Transportation Board nor Congress intended for an OFA purchasing a line to continue rail service to include excursion rail.

Of particular concern is the NOI submitted by the “North Coast Railroad Company” which was filed late and should be dismissed on that fact alone. This entity has not yet disclosed its identity or its source of financing. It is our understanding that this applicant has no ties to the North Coast of California nor experience with freight rail services but is seeking to haul coal across the functionally abandoned rail line for shipment abroad. Its egregious lack of transparency was further evidenced with its NOI filing which included a bank statement that was at best misleading and at worst fraudulent. In the bank statement, the viewable beginning and ending balances appeared to be above $15million. However, under further examination of the documentation, it was discovered that the average rotating balance of the account appears to be closer to $1,000.

The complete lack of freight traffic on the line since 1998, high risk, and improbable restoration of the tracks for freight warrants abandonment and railbanking of the line from Willits to Humboldt Bay. We urge the STB to continue to give the GRTA/NCRA’s abandonment/railbank application full and fair consideration and reject the Notices of Intent to file. Thank you for your attention to this most important matter.

Sincerely,

[Members of Congress]