The Des Moines Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (DMAMPO) will construct the Des Moines Transload Facility (the Transload Facility) in Des Moines, IA, to reduce the volume of freight trucked within a 150-mile radius. The Transload Facility will use Class I and II freight rail shippers to transport goods in and out of the Des Moines area. Anticipated users of the facility include a wide variety of companies that handle large volumes of commodities that move most efficiently in rail car volumes: minerals, steel, chemicals, lumber, finished products, agricultural products, food, fertilizers, products for the development of Iowa’s growing wind energy industry, roofing materials, pipe, sheet metal, pilings, beams, plastics, aggregates, salts, oils, green bio products, feed additives, generators, transformers, farm machinery, construction equipment, and military equipment.

Additional information can be found at DMAMPO’s project website.  

Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) evaluated the potential environmental and related impacts of constructing the Des Moines Transload Facility in Des Moines, IA. FRA and the project sponsor, DMAMPO, conducted an environmental review, including preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq., that was issued on June 25, 2020. FRA approved a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this project on August 27, 2020. 

The Des Moines Transload Facility Project EA and FONSI can be accessed via the links below.  

• EA
• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Appendix C
• Appendix D
• Appendix E
• Appendix F
• Finding of No Significant Impact 

FRA Points of Contact

Amanda Ciampolillo 
Environmental Protection Specialist
Federal Railroad Administration, RPD-13
1200 New Jersey Avenue, Southeast
Washington, DC 20590
amanda.ciampolillo@dot.gov

Media Queries Contact:
Phone: 202-493-6024
Email: FRAPA@dot.gov

Permitting Dashboard

The U.S. Permitting Dashboard is an online tool for Federal agencies, project sponsors, and interested members of the public to track the Federal government’s environmental review and authorization processes for large or complex infrastructure projects. The Dashboard is part of a government-wide effort to improve coordination, transparency, and accountability. A link to this project’s page on the Dashboard is below.

Permitting Dashboard Link