The following is a statement from Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert, Jr., regarding the Surface Transportation Board’s rejection of the Great Lakes Basin Rail Line.

“We’re extremely pleased to see the Surface Transportation Board today reject Great Lakes Basin Transportation’s application to construct and operate a rail line through Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

“Despite evidence showing the rail line unnecessary, the proposed 261-mile project would have cut through prime Illinois farmland, disturbing nearly 5,000 acres for the rail line and another 14,700 acres for the railport in Manteno.  

“We’re happy to see that the Surface Transportation Board concurred with our written objections when they found Great Lakes Basin Transportation’s application to be incomplete and the company’s assets insufficient to complete such a project.

“Finally, we would like to thank Sen. Dick Durbin, Reps. Robin Kelly and Adam Kinzinger, and all of our state and local officials for their support in opposing this project.â€