VERNAL, Utah― Opponents of the proposed Uinta Basin Railway oil-train project will protest in Vernal Thursday to challenge continued funding of the rail line by Utah’s Permanent Community Impact Fund Board.

The board is scheduled to vote on whether to give an additional $21.4 million of public money to the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, which is spearheading the railway. The board already granted the coalition $6.5 million to study the railway in November 2018.

The railway would quadruple oil production in the Uinta Basin by allowing the fuel to be transported from Utah to Gulf Coast refineries.

Members of the Utah Clean Infrastructure Coalition, which includes more than 20 community and conservation groups, have said using the funds for fossil-fuel infrastructure projects is illegal under federal and state law. The public funding must go toward public projects that help communities deal with the impacts of mineral extraction on federal public lands.

What: Demonstration at Community Impact Board meeting to oppose Uinta Basin Railway funding

When: Thursday, June 13, at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Uintah Conference Center, 313 E 200 South, Vernal, Utah, 84078

Who: Members of the Utah Clean Infrastructure Coalition, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Living Rivers and the Argyle Wilderness Preservation Alliance, will be available for media interviews.