DM&E Schedules Media Availability on Final EIS Report
January 30, 2002
   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BROOKINGS, S.D.— DM&E has scheduled a media briefing on final STB ruling issued today (see www.stb.dot.gov).  DM&E President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Schieffer will be available today at 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time at the Sioux Falls, SD downtown Holiday Inn City Centre (Ambassador Room) on the corner of 8^th and Philips.  Media not available to participate in person may call in at 1-877-918-6721.   

Because the project is spread out over three states (South Dakota, Wyoming and Minnesota), members of the media are invited to call in to listen and ask questions via a toll free telephone hookup (1-877-918-6721; passcode #254869).  PLEASE HAVE YOUR PHONE ON "MUTE" UNLESS YOU ARE ASKING A QUESTION SO OTHER PARTICIPANTS CANNOT HEAR YOUR BACKGROUND NOISE.  Should any member of the media have questions in advance of the conference, please contact Joyce Buckley at (605) 697-2400.

As a preliminary reaction to the ruling, Schieffer said he was extremely pleased that the Board specifically recognized the importance of the project as part of President Bush's National Energy Policy plan.  He was also pleased with the decision's clarification on the overpass mitigation conditions for Rochester.  "We certainly didn't get everything we wanted, but the STB's clarification of this language goes a long way to insure that opponent communities cannot use these conditions as either a means to stop the project or to create unreasonable cost obstacles. We remain committed to working in good faith with all the communities who do not have a Partnership Agreement.  But we are extremely proud of the agreements with the vast majority of communities who do support the DM&E project, and have recognized the many benefits that the project brings for farmers, jobs, economic development, additional tax revenue, excursion rail passenger service, and many other areas," Schieffer said.  51 of the 56 communities along the DM&E line have taken formal positions in support of the project and have entered into a formal, legally enforceable agreement with DM&E on a variety of mitigation measures.  Those privately negotiated agreements provide significantly more mitigation to communities than federally mandated conditions.  "That was our philosophy and objective when we started out on this project, and I am pleased to see we have achieved that goal," said Schieffer.  "We will remain in close touch with the 51 supporter communities with whom we have agreements throughout the implementation of this project, looking for additional opportunities for them wherever possible." 

Schieffer also said he was impressed with the legal strength of the decision.  "The STB has a great reputation in Washington for rarely having its decisions reversed or remanded in federal court.  My initial reading of this decision gives us high confidence that the STB has done its usual thorough legal homework.  We expect court challenges.  But after my initial review of this document today, I feel much better about that part of the process."