Rochester Coalition and Mayo Clinic Challenge Railroad's Contention That Hazmat Rail Shipments Po...(pection and installation of wayside dete...),Health

hot box/loose wheel detectors, to the west and east of Rochester to

provide timely warning of potential problems prior to entering

Rochester city limits.

-- Pre-notification for Rochester emergency services of hazmat cargo.

-- Whistle-free crossings for non-grade separated road crossings.

Background

For nearly a decade, the DM&E has pursued a major rail expansion though parts of southern Minnesota and South Dakota in order to haul large amounts of coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin to distribution points in the East. Unable to secure private financing for the project, DM&E sought the largest federal loan to a private company in American history -- a $2.3 billion loan from U.S. taxpayers to finance a major rail expansion project through the Midwest. On Feb. 26, 2007, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) denied the DM&E's $2.3 billion loan application citing that the loan would have posed an unacceptably high risk to federal taxpayers.

In early September 2007, the Canadian Pacific announced its acquisition of the DM&E.

The Rochester Coalition is committed to protecting the people of Rochester and the patients and staff at Mayo Clinic as well as other affected communities. The Rochester Coalition represents the city of Rochester, Olmsted County, the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce and Mayo Clinic.