Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has spearheaded a coalition of attorneys general urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a lower court's decision blocking the construction of a rail line intended to transport oil along the Colorado River. The case, Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado, involves a challenge to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board’s approval of the Uinta Basin rail project.
The proposed rail line aims to connect Utah's Uinta Basin with existing interstate rail lines in Colorado, facilitating the movement of waxy crude oil to refineries in other states. Concerns have been raised about potential leaks and spills that could affect critical water supplies, including the Colorado River and Puget Sound.
In August 2023, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Surface Transportation Board's environmental analysis was insufficient as it did not account for upstream and downstream impacts. Proponents of the rail line are seeking Supreme Court intervention to limit federal agencies' scope under NEPA reviews.
Attorney General Weiser emphasized the importance of protecting natural resources: “The Colorado River is among the most critical natural resources in our state—and our most critical water source... The risk of harm to our state and mountain communities and others affected by this rail line is simply too great to ignore.”
Previously, Weiser had requested U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg deny funding for the project due to its environmental risks. Joining Weiser in filing an amicus brief are attorneys general from Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.