• The Surface Transportation Board filed its decision approving Townline Rail Terminal to construct and operate a new rail line in Smithtown, Suffolk County, NY, subject to environmental mitigation conditions. View the board’s decision.

    Read More
  • The STB has provided a Final Environmental Assessment, including a response to comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment. These documents can be viewed via the STB.gov website under Docket No. FD 36575. View the Final Environmental Assessment.

    Read More
  • The STB responded to the Town of Smithtown’s request for a declaratory order regarding hazardous materials pertaining to Townline Rail and CarlsonCorp. Townline Rail would be considered a common carrier and thus required to handle hazardous materials under a reasonable request. The CarlsonCorp transloading facility – as a separate entity, not providing rail service but loading and unloading services – would not be a common carrier.

    This should put to rest the fear being raised by some in the community about transport of any hazardous or toxic chemicals and materials to the Kings Park property: New York State DEC and Town of Smithtown regulations would prohibit those materials on CarlsonCorp property, and their decisions cannot be overridden by the Federal Surface Transportation Board.

    Read More

  • I have now spent months fielding mostly respectful dialogues from concerned citizens. I absolutely love these conversations even if we don’t always agree. What I find problematic are the groups that choose to fight even before the facts and science is presented. These groups offer no concrete solutions to our environmental challenges. When it comes…

    read full blog post »

  • I have read a lot of letters this month from residents who are concerned over potential project impacts. I am looking forward to the Issuance of the Environmental Assessment so we can all get some scientific answers to some truly important questions. On a personal level, I am continually surprised by the Townline Assoc. In…

    read full blog post »

  • Long Island / Environment Department of Environmental Conservation: More than 40 local communities ‘disadvantaged’ A view earlier this year of Magnolia and Railroad avenues in New Cassel, one of the communities the state has designated as “disadvantaged.” Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr. Here is a very interesting look at the waste industry and the how it relates…

    read full blog post »