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Lampasas council adopts resolution opposing proposed Burnet–Lampasas rail line, asks for full environmental review
Summary
The City of Lampasas voted to adopt a resolution opposing the Texas Materials Group proposal to build a 26.9‑mile rail line through Burnet and Lampasas counties and asked the Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis to perform a full environmental impact study.
The Lampasas City Council on April 8 approved a resolution opposing the construction and operation of a proposed rail line by Texas Materials Group that would run roughly 26.9 miles across Burnet and Lampasas counties and link the Austin Western Railroad near Burnet to BNSF near Lampasas. The resolution directs the city manager to submit the document to the Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis and requests a full environmental impact statement rather than a shorter assessment.
City staff and several council members described concerns the project could harm water resources, riparian areas and prime agricultural land and raise public‑safety risks at crossings. The adopted resolution lists specific objections, including potential effects on Sulphur Creek and a named river referenced in the document, groundwater connected to alluvial deposits, historic ranches and families working toward historic designation, and the absence of a commitment to exclude hazardous materials from proposed rail operations.
The resolution, based closely on a county text passed earlier in the day, states the city’s belief that the proposed action could have a “detrimental effect on the human environment” and on public safety in rural communities by increasing accident risk and emergency response times. It also urges the Surface Transportation Board (docket FD 36815) to conduct a comprehensive review and to notify the city of related filings and actions.
A council member argued that the city does not need to prove the alleged harms now but should request a full environmental impact study to ensure the Surface Transportation Board addresses potential impacts. Another council member cited the city’s existing water rights in Sulphur Creek and said potential contamination of that resource would directly affect Lampasas. City staff confirmed the resolution was emailed to council members before the meeting and would be scanned and submitted to the board after signatures.
Council approved the resolution by voice vote; the meeting record shows a motion and second and multiple “ayes” in response to the roll call request. The resolution text read into the record names Texas Materials Group, the Surface Transportation Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad (BNSF).
