Camas Prairie_dh.doc

February 23, 2000

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Re: Abandonment of the Grangeville-Spalding Rail Line

Dear Director:

Last week your department may have received a draft Environmental and Historical Report prepared by the Camas Prairie RailNet in anticipation of its abandonment of the Grangeville-Spalding rail line. Included with the draft report was a transmittal letter from the Railroad’s attorney, John Heffner, dated February 8, 2000. The Railroad normally requests that state agencies review its draft Environmental and Historical Report and provide Camas Prairie with “any feedback or guidance that you may be able to offer.” The rail line in question is approximately 66 miles long and runs between Grangeville in Idaho County and Spalding in NezPerce County. For much of its length, this line parallels U.S. Highway 95. This line serves the community of Grangeville, Cottonwood, Craigmont, Culdesac, and Lapwai. The line also traverses the NezPerce Indian Reservation. The rail line also parallels/crosses Lapwai Creek and crosses many other water courses.

The PUC requests that your agency carefully review the assertions contained in the draft Environmental and Historical Report. For example, the enclosed bridge list indicates that many of the bridges cross over watercourses. In Section (9) water on page 6, the Railroad indicates that no “in-stream salvage operations will be required.” The PUC would be interested in knowing whether DEQ or other state agencies would require permits to salvage the bridges over these water courses. In addition, if DEQ believes that Camas Prairie should comply with certain environmental conditions as part of its salvage operations of the tracks and 43 bridges, DEQ may wish to recommend such conditions. Are there any endangered or threatened species or critical habits? ITD may also want to review traffic safety and increased truck traffic on U.S. 95 if abandonment is granted.

Although the Railroad acknowledges that most of the 43 railroad bridges on this line were built more than 50 years ago, it states that it “does not believe that the Line or the structures on it have any historical value.” Report at page 10. It appears that most of the bridges on this line were built in 1908. In addition, the copied photographs contained in the Environmental and Historical Report clearly show that many of these bridges are trestle construction and may in fact be of great historical value.

As I mentioned in my February 3 letter, Executive Order No. 98-08 provides that all state agency responses to the Camas Prairie regarding the abandonment of this line should be coordinated with the PUC. If your agency has prepared responses to the Railroad’s Environmental and Historical Report, please coordinate all responses with the Commission’s Deputy Attorney General, Don Howell, at 334-0312.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter. If you or your Staff have any questions regarding the abandonment process, please contact Mr. Howell.

Very truly yours,

Ron Law
Executive Director

Enclosure

cc: Jim Yost
Don Howell

February 23, 2000
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