Skip navigation.

Environmental Matters > Key Cases
Eastern Iowa Industrial Center Rail Project


Eastern Iowa Industrial Center Rail Project, Construction and Operation

Abstract

By petition filed on July 21, 2009 and an amendment filed on September 8, 2009, the City of Davenport seeks Board authorization to construct and operate an approximately 2.8-mile rail line in southern Eldridge, northern Davenport, and an unincorporated area of Scott County, Iowa.  The project, known as the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center Rail Project, would provide freight rail service to the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center (EIIC), an industrial park located along Interstate 80.  The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a rail connection between the EIIC and the Eldridge Line of the Iowa Chicago & Eastern Railroad and to promote economic development in the area.

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the City of Davenport conducted a streamlined environmental review of the proposed rail project, and on March 17, 2008, released an Environmental Assessment (EA).  This EA addressed the environmental impacts that may result from the proposed project and concluded that construction of an approximately 2.8-mile rail line would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment.  Following a public comment period and a public hearing, which was held in Davenport, Iowa, on April 28, 2008, FHWA determined that the project would not have any significant impact on the human and natural environment in a “Finding of No Significant Impacts” dated July 8, 2008.

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) strongly encourages agencies to reduce paperwork and duplication of efforts, and one of the methods identified by CEQ to accomplish these goals is adopting the environmental documents prepared by other agencies.  Accordingly, pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.3, the Board may adopt the FHWA’s EA as its own since the action analyzed by the FHWA is substantially the same as that being proposed by the City of Davenport.  The Board’s Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) carefully reviewed the EA and conducted an independent assessment of the proposed rail project.  Based on this review and assessment, SEA concludes that the EA adequately assesses the environmental impacts of the proposed action and meets the Board’s responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act.  SEA further concludes that no supplemental or additional environmental review is required.  Accordingly, SEA is preliminarily recommending that the Board adopt this EA.

Copies of the EA have been issued to appropriate Federal, state and local agencies; tribes; and the public and will be made available to additional parties upon request.  SEA will consider all comments received by the November 30, 2009 deadline before making its final recommendations to the Board.  The Board will then consider SEA’s final recommendations, as well as the complete environmental record, in making its final decision in this proceeding.

Links to the EA and the FHWA Decision are provided below:

March 17, 2008 Environmental Assessment.

July 8, 2008 Federal Highway Administration Decision