Further to the North lies a second developmental target that another railroad could help get on track. It also would finally allow some of the North Slope s 6 trillion tons of coal to be exported. But railroads offer a host of benefits. They are the most energy efficient form of transportation. More importantly, they are one of the most environmentally sensitive forms of transportation.
Railroads offer controlled access that removes the environmental threat of uncontrolled development.
They emit the lowest levels of air pollution and usually cause the least disruption to the land. In January I was further encouraged by estimates that their might be 120 million tons of freight a year from new mines and timber development along the Alaska-Canada rail corridor that would utilize such a new railroad link. Thus I am introducing legislation in Congress to advance consideration of that railroad project. My bill will create an impartial bilateral commission to study the economic, environmental and engineering feasibility of completing the trans-continental railroad linking Canada with Alaska. My bill would create an 18-member commission, half being appointed by each country.