Comment EI-17502
Received or sent (printed as 4/23/2009)
I have resided in the Hamilton Park community for nearly 26 years. As a former US Govermental Enforcement Attorney, I have been appalled by Conrail's apparent lack of diligence in following proper regulatory procedure in an apparent attempt to fast track the sale and demolition of the Harsimus Branch Embankment. I am writing in full support of the Embankment Preservation Coalition's efforts to preserve the Embankment and their request that a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be performed before taking further action. The National Environmental Policy Act requires Federal agencies to prepare EISs for major Federal actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Our community needs a full study of the effects that abandonment of the Harsimus Branch, and demolition of the Embankment, will have on our community and city. Fast tracking the abandonment process will lead directly to the demolition of the Embankment, as Conrail is now seeking demolition permits before local Jersey City agencies. Having lived in this community, I am fully aware of the history and use of the several remaining railroad embankmentsition in Jersey City. The Harsimus Branch Embankment is the largest of these structures. The Harsimus Cove Embankment is wedged in between two densely populated Historic Disricts of downtown Jersey City -- Hamilton Park and Hasimus Cove. The demolition of this Embankment will have serious potential impacts on our adjoining neighborhoods, which needs to be studied and understood, including, among other things, impacts on: · air quality · dust · noise · vibrations · heavy truck traffic through fragile historic districts · damage to buildings on two sides for one-half mile · 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 Given the magnitude of these structures, their potential for adaptive re-use, as-is (without demolition), and the potential serious environmental impacts, the option of doing nothing" (leaving the structures in place) may be the best possible option of minimizing the Embankment's environmental impact on the adjoining communities. Only one preliminary study of contaminants has been done, and only on one section of the Branch. Conrail’s developer partner has not submitted results of an environmental sampling study to STB. The federal agency should enforce federal laws that protect the public interest rather than burdening local governments and citizens. I respectfully request the STB to consider carefully the need for an EIS, before proceeding with the abandonment process. Sincerely yours, Geoffrey M. Elkind"
Submitted by: Geoffrey M. Elkind
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-17502 · back to the docket sheet