CRAIG – A Utah counties coalition has asked the federal government to pull a rail route from consideration after a Colorado agency expressed opposition.

Craig Daily Press reports that the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado sent a letter to the federal government saying the proposed Craig rail route would impact wildlife management plans, displace big game species from finding suitable winter habitats and disrupt buried prehistoric sites in the region.

Land officials said the route would connect to an existing railroad line in Moffat County in Colorado and is one of three beginning in Utah to primarily service the oil and gas sector.

The coalition said the Craig route is not economically feasible after information developed during the public scoping process.

A public comment period is expected.