BRUNSWICK

Opponents of a train layover facility withdrew their request to make a presentation Monday before the Town Council.

Members of the Brunswick West Neighborhood Coalition asked in September for permission to address the council regarding the maintenance and layover facility proposed by Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which manages operation of the Amtrak Downeaster between Brunswick and Boston.

John Perreault, the District 4 town councilor who represents neighborhoods next to where the building would stand, advocated for the group’s appearance during the council’s Oct. 7 meeting.

Almost an hour into Monday’s meeting, Perreault announced the group had canceled its request.

“The neighborhood has asked me not to pursue this avenue anymore as that they didn’t want to be part of (a potential) workshop. … I’m doing as they ask,” Perreault said.

No further explanation was provided. Phone calls and emails sent to members of the neighborhood group were not returned Wednesday.

The 60,000-square-foot, two-story building project currently is under review by the Federal Rail Administration, which has site jurisdiction.

A 30-day public comment period closes Monday, Oct. 14, with a subsequent public hearing to be scheduled by the FRA to address the comments and environmental findings.

If the FRA approves the project, construction could begin immediately, according to NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn.

Conversely, if federal overseers order an environmental impact statement of the location — which is what the neighborhood group is hoping will happen — it would delay construction for a year to 18 months and potentially could scuttle the project altogether.

Asked if he was preparing to file an injunction should the FRA rule in favor of the layover facility proposal, BWNC’s attorney John Shumadine, of Portland law firm Murray Plumb and Murray, was noncommittal.

“The coalition is currently devoting its energy towards providing additional comments and information to persuade the FRA to take the next step and begin the scoping process in order to develop an environmental impact statement,” Shumadine wrote in an email Tuesday afternoon.

“As we stated at the Sept. 26 hearing, NNEPRA’s environmental assessment should not be the last word on how this project will affect the environment,” he added.

jtleonard@timesrecord.com