The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently issued a special water permit that would allow the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway to proceed with its plan to build its Intermodal Center near the city of Gardner in southwestern Johnson County.

BNSF had sought the Section 404 permit from the Corps so it could relocate a streambed at the site.

“The Corps determined that the project is in the public interest, is the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative, and will not significantly impact the human environment,” said a ruling issued by the Kansas City regional office.

“All applicable Federal and state regulations and guidelines were followed in determining that the project plus associated mitigation will not have a significant impact on any resource of concern, including local and regional air quality,” said the ruling.

As proposed, the complex would consist of a BNSF 400-acre “Intermodal” facility and a 560-acre “logistics park”. An Intermodal center is where shipping containers would be unloaded from special trains running from West Coast ports along the BNSF “Transcon” main line. The containers would be taken directly to the adjacent logistics park, a complex of warehouses, distribution centers and shipping points.

BNSF and The Allen Group, a development group headquartered in San Diego, have stated they will spend more than $700 million building the center and it could create thousands of jobs around the area.

Technically, that leaves only a few hurdles before construction can begin. One of the obstacles is a big one: approval of a Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) request for $50 million Federal TIGER Grant to jump-start the project.

“It should be known within week or two if the project wins the grant,” said Tom Weigand, President of the Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce. He is tracking the status of the project on behalf of the Ottawa/Franklin County Economic Development Council.

“That’s not a sure thing,” explained Weigand. “However, priority will be given to intermodal and port facilities. That’s good news.”

According to Weigand, the federal government received more than 600 requests for TIGER grants and although $55 billion was set aside for the grants, the requests total about $360 billion.

BNSF officials have said that if KDOT wins the grant, they’ll begin construction within months; otherwise the proposal will remain on the shelf until economic conditions improve.

Weigand estimates the new intermodal center—once completed--could draw up to 15,000 people to the area, with Ottawa and Wellsville close enough to attract many of those new people.

However, at least two more hurdles remain for the site to be built.

First, opponents have said the Environmental Assessment previously issued by federal regulators is inadequate and they’re pressing for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a far more expensive and time-consuming process. They have promised to file a lawsuit if the Corps issues the water permit without ordering the EIS.

Secondly, the City of Gardner had originally annexed the site. However, voters since turned against the proposal and elected a City Council less sympathetic to BNSF. After the city de-annexed the area, Edgerton, the city next door, has been trying to annex the land. Opponents in Edgerton are trying to mobilize to block the annexation.

The railroad insists the proposal is environmentally sound. Opponents contend that the concentration of trucks and machinery would present a threat to air and water conditions in the area.

BNSF had also considered at a site near Wellsville in northeastern Franklin County about 10 miles southwest of the proposed Johnson County site. The proposed site has drawn strong support from Franklin County because of it promise to create an economic boom for the area.