Comment EI-19297
Received or sent (printed as 1/5/2013)
As lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest and one who is very concerned about protecting the environment and preventing practices that contribute to pollution, environmental degradation and global warming, I object strongly to the proposed coal rail line through Montana's Tongue River Valley. The project would cut the valley in half, abusing the power of eminent domain to destroy good Montana ranch land in order to ship Montana coal to China. I therefore request that the environmental impact statement for the proposed Tongue River Railroad analyze the following: PUBLIC convenience and necessity: This proposed railroad is not for the “public convenience and necessity” which is what is required in order for a body to get the power of eminent domain and condemnation authority. This railroad would serve only, Arch Coal, which intends to sell the coal to China and other Asian markets. IMPACTS on property values: The project would devalue property and infringes on property rights. This railroad will cause fires, spread weeds, devalue property (especially riverfront property), make ranching and farming more difficult and expensive, will split ranch land in half and separate fields from the river and will shift the liability of train crossings to the landowner. IMPACTS ON WILDLIFE: The Tongue River Valley is a rich in wildlife habitat and home to significant elk and mule deer populations as well as upland birds. Industrializing this valley with a railroad and the coal strip mine it serves will seriously degrade this excellent sportsman resource. FLOODING: The railroad bed will act as an earthen dam and potentially worsen the flooding problems now experienced in Miles City in the winter with ice jams. NOISE: The loud trains will ruin the quiet enjoyment of nearby recreation areas near Miles City. INFRASTRUCTURE and traffic: Taxes will go up for residents communities along the rail lines as the coal heads to coastal ports for shipment. This railroad will increase coal train traffic substantially causing traffic delays, noise, and diesel pollution. The only way to live with this increased traffic will require expensive over passes and safety crossing which are paid for primarily by local taxpayers. GLOBAL WARMING: The Tongue River Railroad is one piece of a project that would allow the mining and transport of coal so it can then be burned in dirty Chinese plants. This will contribute to serious increases in carbon dioxide emissions. Clearly, the greenhouse gas costs of this project go far beyond just burning the coal. It must be mined, hauled by trains fueled by diesel to West Coast terminals, shipped overseas by ships fueled by diesel, and then hauled in China to the plants.
Submitted by: Tina Blade · Kirkland, Washington
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/FD-30186/comment/EI-19297 · back to the docket sheet