20070424DEQ letter to Ball Janik.pdf

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\ STATE OF IDAHO
DEPARTMENT OF
~ ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
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1118 F STREET. LEWISTON, IDAHO 83501 . [phone]
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\.J;lj ~ C-')~~; JAMES E, RISCH, GOVERNOR
TONI HARDES1Y, DIRECTOR
April 18, 2007
Karl Morell
Ball Janik LLP
1455 F StreetNW, Suite 225
Washington, DC 20005
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RE: Request for comment; STB Docket No. AB-570 (Sub-No. 2X) Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad
Inc. Abandonment Exemption in Latah County,Jdaho
Dear Mr. Morell:
After issuance of the Lewiston Regional Office of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
comment letter for the above mentioned project (December 19, 2006), Ball Janik LLP requests additional
information and comment on the Revised Environmental Report which you state incorporates two changes:
the scope of the proposed abandonment has been narrowed to the 0.2 mile rail segment between milepost
85.91 and 86.11 in Moscow, Latah County, Idaho; arid Gritman Medical Center will likely remove the
bridge within the project area as part of the Center s planned expansion. Our comments are directed
toward your proposed abandonment activities and at this time we do not make comment on bridge removal
responsibilities or requirements.
We appreciate the opportunity to review the Revised Environmental Report. All requirements in the DEQ
December 19, 2006 letter (Exhibit 9) remain the same. Please be advised that a hazardous material
contingency plan, which includes Department notification, should be put in place to address hazardous
material remediation if these substances are discovered during abandonment as requested in our most
recent correspondence and supported by the references therein.
If you would like to discuss these comments or have any further questions as this project develops, please
contact the Lewiston Regional Office at [phone].
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Kerby ole
Regional Administrator
CC:Toni Hardesty, Director, Department of Environmental Quality
Curt Fransen, Idaho Attorney General Office
Don Howell IPUC/Boise
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