Comment EI-16706
Received or sent (printed as 4/3/2009)
I believe the STB should authorize a full environmetal study of th Harsimus Branch to assess the impacts of demolition of the 6th St Embankment. Without such a study it is impossible for federal, state and city agencies to make an informed decision that protects the environment and health of Jersey City Citizens. As a resident who lives on 5th street directly behind the Embankment, I have serious concerns about demolition of the Embankment, which was an active railway line for at least 50 years. It is well known that a number of contaminants are present along old rail lines including PCBs. Furhter, there is no information about the orrgin of the fill used to build the Embankment in approx. 1905, which may have already been contaminated. It appears completely impossible to remove these 6 block-long sandstone/limestone structures whicih are between 17 and 25 feet high, without aerosolization of the dirt and dust contained within the embankmetn walls. It is essential to know what chemicals and pollutants will be contained in this particulate matter that will be inhaled by residents, and settle in our yards. Furhter, once the embankment is opened and the fill exposed it can easily wash down into city streets, residents' yards, and into the storm sewers where it flows into the Hudson River. This is an unacceptable risk to take without first thoroughly assessing the nature of the fill, and conducting a complete enviromental impact study.
Submitted by: Nisha Ahamed · Jersey City, NJ
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/AB-167/sub/1189X/comment/EI-16706 · back to the docket sheet