Judge Rules in Favor of Port Mackenzie Rail Extension

U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline has denied environmental groups’ request to block construction on the Port Mackenzie Rail Extension, a 32-mile link from the main line of the Alaska Railroad to Port Mackenzie in Alaska.

Cook Inlet Keeper, Sierra Club and Alaska Survival objected to the U.S. Army Corps’ decision to issue a wetlands permit, alleging that the rail extension would cause irreparable harm to the area.

The judge cited environmental impact studies conducted over a period of years regarding this project, writing in a brief that the likelihood of irreparable harm is “small,” especially considering the special conditions included in the permit to mitigate environmental impacts. This marks the second time a federal court has struck down a request for a preliminary injunction related to the project.