Meeting Between EPA and American Association of Railroads

May 20, 2010

Attendees:  Robert Fronczak (American Association of Railroads), Gary
Nayberg (Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway), Jack Cain (DuPont),
Rusty Wasem (EPA), Tom Moriarty (EPA), Peter Caulkins (EPA), Al Vaughan
(EPA), Jim Tompkins (EPA), Carissa Cyran (EPA)

The American Association of Railroads provided a presentation on how the
mitigation measures required by the 2009 Amended Sulfometuron Methyl RED
would affect their vegetation management priorities.  Railroad
representatives specifically stressed that since railroad easements, or
rights of way, are typically 100 ft. (i.e., 50 ft on either side of the
center line of the track) and how the 50 foot buffer required by the
Amended Sulfometuron RED, to protect non-target plants, would
effectively prohibit the railroad industry’s use of sulfometuron
methyl for vegetation management on tracks and greatly increase the
railroad industry’s vegetation management expenses.  The railroad
industry also presented EPA with additional information on how an
herbicide, such as sulfometuron methyl, is typically applied for
vegetation management in railroad rights of way.  

