Alaska Survival v. Surface Transportation Board

OPINION

GOULD, Circuit Judge:

In this appeal we consider whether principles of administrative law and a controlling statute governing railroad extensions and applicable protections of environmen tal laws require us to grant a petition for review of a specialized agency’s decision to permit the extension of a railroad line to Port MacKenzie, Alaska. Petitioners Alaska Survival, Sierra Club, and Cook Inletkeeper seek review of the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) decision authorizing Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) to construct about thirty-five miles of new rail line between Port…