(The Associated Press circulated the following article by Frederic J. Frommer on February 1.)
WASHINGTON — Sen. Norm Coleman said Thursday that it will be tough to block the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad’s planned coal train project in the Senate, but said he would try if a mitigation plan isn’t offered to meet the concerns of Rochester and the Mayo Clinic.
Coleman, R-Minn., made the remarks in a conference call a day after the Federal Railroad Administration determined the DM&E’s project has met the requirements of the federal environmental review process, triggering a 90-day period during which the agency must approve or reject a requested $2.3 billion loan for the project.
“It is challenging to stop it in the Senate,” said Coleman, who has threatened to hold up the project in recent months.
“The burden is on us as the department moves forward for us to try to stop something,” he added. “Some of my colleagues who may support this project can make it very, very difficult to allow anything to get passed.”
The Rochester Coalition, which includes the city of Rochester and the Mayo Clinic, has objected to the expansion because it would mean more trains running through the city and close to the clinic. The coalition organized Thursday’s call, which also included Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Tim Walz, both D-Minn., as well as local and clinic officials.
Klobuchar had a similar take on prospects for stopping the project in Congress.
“I’m also committed to working on this through the Senate, but I share Sen. Coleman’s concern that that can be problematic,” she said.
Coleman said that are other options besides passing a law to block the project.
“In addition to legislation, individual senators can make it very difficult on a department – very difficult,” he said. “Nominations for positions can be left unfilled for extended period of time, budget matters can come under extensive review that have no relation to this project.”
Asked if he was threatening to use those tools against the Department of Transportation, Coleman responded that he will use all of his powers as a senator to protect Rochester’s concerns.
The DM&E wants to add track to the Powder River Basin coal fields in Wyoming and upgrade its existing line in South Dakota and Minnesota. The $6 billion project would involve building about 280 miles of new track and upgrading 600 miles of existing track so trains could haul coal for power plants.