Comment EI-19608
Received or sent (printed as 1/8/2013)
After reviewing the pro and con list for the potential coal transport from Montana to Wyoming and on to the Pacific Coast for export to Asia I am deeply concerned about the potential impact on public health and the environment. The proposal to build a coal-hauling railroad line through the Tongue River Valley seems especially misguided for two main reasons: 1) it would have negative impacts on the residents, the quality of life, and the environment in the Tongue River Valley; and 2) it would contribute to similar negative impacts for the residents, the quality of life, and the environment in the Pacific Northwest in general. Because it is part of a larger project to export coal from the US to Asia through ports on the Pacific coast, the proposed Tongue River Valley railroad would have much more extensive impacts. I believe that a responsible EIS will take these impacts into account. For example the impacts on property values; the effects of strip mining on the environment and wildlife; increased instances of flooding and potential ice jams in the winter months; desecration of recreational quiet areas due to rail-noise pollution; increased taxes due to transportation demands... and all for something that is just to sell coal to Asia. This appears to me to be an instance where industry is going to take everything and give back next to nothing. Please take this into careful consideration.
Submitted by: Corey Wiscomb · Olga, 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-19608 · back to the docket sheet