Comment EI-16768
Received or sent (printed as 4/4/2009)
I want an full environmental study conducted for the entire Harsimus Branch. This is already a densely packed neighborhood. Destruction of Harsimus branch will cause problems in terms of traffic, dust, noise, vibrations, air quality, and a negative impact on the general health of people living in the area. Most of the existing structures in the areas are over 100 years old and will suffer from the vibrations generated by the heavy truck traffic required to remove the embankment. Moreover the embankment is a cultural resource. Currently as a neglected relic it serves to break up the density of tightly packed housing in the area, provides needed greenery and habitat for birds and other wildlife. Once it is permanently preserved as part of the historic legacy of downtown Jersey City it has the potential to provided a needed park/recreation area for the neighborhood, desperately needed public transportation to neighborhoods west of Jersey City, and a patch of nature and greenery in an enviroment otherwise dominated by concrete and ashfalt. § removal of a cultural resource § health § flooding (no half-mile of fill to absorb stormwater in flood plain) § water quality (increased burden on combined sewers; release of CSOs into Hudson Estuary) § release of contaminants § habitat destruction § wildlife, including migratory birds and monarch butterflies, and much local species § ecosystem (part of habitat corridor joining Hudson to Hackensack) § cultural loss for Holy Rosary historic festival and Italian community § loss of grade-separated transportation structure, ideal for urban area’s heavy traffic § loss of light rail linking Secaucus to waterfront § loss of light freight opportunities Inadequate studies done of contaminants Failure of Conrail’s developer partner to submit environmental sampling study to STB Need for federal agency to enforce federal laws rather than burdening local governments and citizens Environmental justice issues Conrail’s neglect of site over decades and continuing bad faith seeking demolition permits
Submitted by: Ken Goldman · Jersey City, New Jersey
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-16768 · back to the docket sheet