San Jacinto Rail Limited-Construction Exemption-and the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company-Operation Exemption-Build-Out to the Bayport Loop Near Houston, Harris County, Texas

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On August 30, 2001, San Jacinto Rail Limited (San Jacinto) and The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) (collectively the Applicants) filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502 for authority for construction by San Jacinto and operation by BNSF of a new rail line near Houston, Harris County, Texas. The project would involve approximately 12.8 miles of new rail line to serve the petro-chemical industries in the Bayport Industrial District (Bayport Loop). Because the construction and operation of this project has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts, the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) has determined that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate. SEA is holding public scoping meetings as part of the EIS process, as discussed in the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS published by the Board on October 1, 2001. As part of the scoping process, SEA has developed a draft Scope of Study for the EIS.