Comment EI-19858
Received or sent (printed as 1/11/2013)
Docket No. FD 30186 Attention: Mr. Ken Blodgett Dear Mr. Blodgett: I live in Bellingham, WA - about 1000 miles from the Tongue River Valley. However, I'm directly connected to this magnificent Montana landscape by: *RAIL - Coal transport made possible by the proposed coal-hauling line through the Tongue River Valley would likely result in an increase of coal train traffic through my community on its way to current and proposed coal export terminals in the Northwest. *CLIMATE - Increased coal burning made possible by the proposed coal-hauling line through the Tongue River Valley would exacerbate global anthropocentric climate change, intensify ocean acidification, release additional toxic mercury into air and water, and impact my local community in a host of other ways (especially when considering the cumulative impact with other fossil fuel activities). *HUMANITY - Though strangers to me, the rural residents of the Tongue River Valley are my brothers and sisters and are every bit entitled to a clean and healthy environment, protection of their livelihoods and traditional ways of life, and self-determination in matters that affect their lives. Because of my connections to the Tongue River Valley, I respectfully request that you take a hard look at the following impacts in your EIS for the proposed Tongue River Railroad: 1) Study the increased coal train traffic and its resulting traffic delays, noise, fugitive coal dust and diesel pollution. 2) Study the taxpayer burden of constructing expensive overpasses and safety crossings, which would be necessary to deal with considerable train traffic. 3) Study and explain whether and how this proposal (that's dependent on a variety of public resources) is in the short-term and long-term public interest. 4) Study how the proposed coal-hauling line would impact elk and mule deer populations, upland bird species and other wildlife, as well as native plant communities. 5) Study what safety and railroad traffic improvements would be needed if 40 million tons or more of coal are shipped from the proposed Otter Creek mine, along the proposed railroad, and through Montana and on to west coast ports -- and how much, if any, of these costs would and should be borne by taxpayers, and how much by the railroad and its overseas customers. 6) Study the quantitative (economic loss from decreased visits) and qualitative (perceptions on sense of place) impacts of loud trains diminishing the quiet enjoyment of nearby recreation areas. 7) Study how this proposed coal-hauling line would contribute to the acceleration of anthropocentric climate change - and include analysis of local and regional climate impacts such as more violent storm events, shifts in precipitation patterns, habitat disruption, etc. Thank you for considering these comments. Sincerely, Mark Schofield 400 Whatcom Street Bellingham, WA 98225
Submitted by: Mark Schofield · Bellingham, 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-19858 · back to the docket sheet