Overview

Green Eagle Railroad, LLC (GER), a subsidiary of Puerto Verde Holdings (PVH), filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) for authority to construct and operate approximately 1.3 miles of new freight rail line (the Line) in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Line would be part of a larger project by PVH, the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge (PVGTB) Project, consisting of a new trade corridor for freight rail and commercial motor vehicles between Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, and Eagle Pass. Only the Line is under the Board’s jurisdiction.

The Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) determined that the construction and operation of the Line has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts. Therefore, OEA is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

What's an EIS?

NEPA requires Federal agencies to prepare an EIS for any proposed major federal action that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment. An EIS describes the potential impacts of the proposed federal action on the environment and identifies measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate these impacts.

The federal action here is the Board’s decision to authorize with appropriate conditions or to deny GER’s petition for authority to construct and operate the Line. Only the Line is under the jurisdiction of the Board. Parts of the PVGTB Project other than the Line will be considered, as appropriate, when evaluating the environmental impacts of the Line in the EIS.

Separately from the Board’s final decision on GER’s petition, the PVGTB Project would require permits from the United States (U.S.) Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The U.S. Coast Guard will participate as a Cooperating Agency in the EIS process. A cooperating agency is a Federal agency that has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved in a proposed project.