Durango Smoke Update From Wasatch Railroad Contractors:

The Wasatch Railroad Contractors team has completed the on-site evaluation of the problem presented by the community. As has been mention in other posts, we have posted a short report on our web page. Please go to www.wasatch-rr-contractors.com for more information.

In respect to the community and the railroad, there is not too much that I can say at this time about the report or our findings. Suffice to say, we have been in close contact with the community and the railroad in regard to our findings. It is hoped that we will make a final presentation to all concerned individuals sometime during the week of October 16-20, 2006. This will be a public meeting and we will do our best to post the actual meeting time and place as soon as we know.

Many of you have posted additional comments since the completion of our review. May I clearly state that our team has looked at all of the questions and we have reviewed all of the comments. Yes, we have looked coal condition, and yes, we are looking at alternative fuels. (Bob… Yes, the coal still comes from the King Coal Mine.)

What has impressed us the most is the number of comments we have received from the railfan community in general. Our mailbox has received a number of very fine reports, comments, and suggestions that we are including in the “public comment” section of our final report.

In closing, our team has been very impressed by the railroad’s wiliness to support this project and find solutions. A number of times during our evaluation, we heard railroad employees make comments in regard to being a good neighbor. Not only is the railroad trying to be a good neighbor, the folks in the community also seem interested in preserving the railroad and ensuring that it has a long life. This project has been viewed as one side fighting against the other. This is surely not the case. We highly commend the efforts of the railroad and the community to remain as supportive friends and neighbors.

As railfans and concerned citizens, I suggest that we all follow the lead that has been provided. We should strive to be good neighbors and friends, and we should continue to support the railroad as they strive to do the best they can in preserving the past while protecting the future of our industry.

Respectfully,

John E. Rimmasch