Army Corps processing BNSF Intalco Yard permit application separately from Custer Spur proposal

Published Sept. 11, 2014

SEATTLE – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun processing a permit application from BNSF Railway to conduct work in wetlands at its Intalco Yard near Cherry Point, in Whatcom County, Wash.

The proposed project would extend an existing side track and upgrade existing track within the Intalco Yard facility near Custer, Wash.  The project is intended to service existing customers by enabling BNSF to improve capacity and efficiency of the Cherry Point Subdivision Line Segment 418.

The proposed work would remove and replace turnouts, switches and signals; construct 3,690 feet of new track to extend the existing siding; upgrade existing yard tracks and switches, extend four culverts and build two retaining walls. Work would discharge 1,050 cubic yards of fill into 0.22 acres of wetland.  

The Army Corps of Engineers has determined that the Intalco Yard Expansion Project is a single and complete project with independent utility from BNSF’s proposed Custer Spur Improvement Project, which is associated with the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal.  As such, these two BNSF proposals will be subject to separate Department of the Army permit decisions. 

To view the Corps’ independent utility determination memorandum, click here.


Contact
Patricia Graesser
206-764-3760
patricia.graesser@usace.army.mil

Release no. 14-040