Comment EI-19866
Received or sent (printed as 1/11/2013)
I am very concerned about the potential impact on public health and the environment from the various proposals to transport coal from Montana and Wyoming to terminals on the Pacific Coast for export to Asia. 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 EIS should investigate possible negative impacts on the values of coastal properties in the San Juan islands, and should include a plan to recompense property owners for any decrease in property values. It should investigate the possible effects on tourism in the San Juan islands, on which may businesses rely, especially whale watching, boating, fishing and consequently the hotel industry. It should investigate the possible effect of the shipping from the coal port terminal on the marine wildlife populations, especially the orcas, which are already under stress. Please make sure that the EIS addresses the impact of coal shipping on property values and quality of life, on the tourism industry, and on the marine wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. Furthermore, by encouraging the use of coal in China, this project would contribute further to global warming. Therefore, the EIS would have to consider the contributions of the increased coal use on air quality and global temperature
Submitted by: Laura Derevensky · Montgomery, New York
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-19866 · back to the docket sheet