Comment EI-19325
Received or sent (printed as 1/5/2013)
The environmental impact statement for the proposed Tongue River Railroad will need to address the elephant in the room, i.e. why American communities must suffer the degradation of our lands and economy for the benefit of China. 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 one coal company giant, Arch Coal, which intends to sell the coal to China and other Asian countries. Range fires and noxious weeds follow railroad lines; Montana is a prime suspect in the spread of spotted knapweed, we already ban hay exports from that state because of it. Every summer we have field and range fires started by trains. We don't need more so that China can get our coal. This railroad will make ranching and farming more difficult and expensive, will split ranch land in half and separate fields from the river. •Wildlife: The Tongue River Valley is rich in wildlife habitat and home to outstanding elk and mule deer populations as well as upland birds. As you may or may not know, many of these populations, especially birds, are in trouble due to habitat loss and degradation. The environmental impact statement should address the likely effects of pushing any species to the brink of endangered listing, which would further impact the local citizenry and economy. Industrializing this valley with a railroad and the coal strip mine it serves will seriously degrade hunting and fishing, and associated economies of the region. In short, we in the West are getting more and more tired of the rape of the environment to line the pockets of industry. The planet is in trouble and coal is a big contributer. Let's not wreck more of the last best places to hasten its collapse. •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. FEMA is already broke...the budetary implications of flooding needs to be added to the cost/benefit analysis of this proposal. •Noise: The loud trains will ruin the quiet enjoyment of nearby recreation areas near Miles City, not to mention the residents and wildlife in the area. What will be the impact on the migration and breeding opportunities of the wildlife? Further, the deer and elk kill on ouir highways in winter is ghastly in Montana as they use them as routes easier to navigate than the deep snow. Will the same be true of the train tracks? High banks of snow trapping them on the tracks as it does on the highways in winter? Fish and game should participate in the analysis of the impact of this proposed railroad on the herds already impacted by habitat loss and wolf/grizzly predation. •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. The folks closer to the coastal ports are also screaming about the impact of increased rail traffic not only for coal but also for oil which is being transported more and more by train traffic. Are you all looking at the big picture of impacts, or just one project at a time? Last but not least, The Tongue River Railroad will allow coal that should stay in the ground to be burned in dirty Chinese plants and will fuel decades-long increases in Carbon Dioxide emissions. The greenhouse gas costs of Otter Creek coal 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. We are rapidly approaching what may be a climatic tipping point. Coal should stay in the ground until we figure out a way go burn it without burning up the planet. What's the rush? China can and should get its act together without wrecking Montana, Idaho, Washington in the process. Hope you're really out there listening and thinking. Cheers! In short, we in the West are getting more and more tired of the rape of the environment to line the pockets of industry. The planet is in trouble and coal is a big contributer. Let's not wreck more of the last best places to hasten its collapse.
Submitted by: Karen Swoope · Colfax, 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-19325 · back to the docket sheet