Railroad Expansion Will Move Forward

Laramie, Wy – A railroad that wants to tap into
northeast Wyoming's coal fields received a split decision in a
federal appeals court.
The Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad had gone to court to
fight restrictions placed on it by the 1999 South Dakota
Legislature.
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld some of the state's
eminent domain laws and struck down others.
Neither the railroad nor the state of South Dakota indicated
plans to appeal the ruling.
Railroad President Kevin Schieffer (SHEEF'-ur) says the major
regulatory and legal hurdles have been cleared and he's focusing
now on financing for the two (B) billion dollar project.
He says the best-case scenario is getting the money arranged by
year's end and starting at least some of the construction next
year.