Comment EI-19911
Received or sent (printed as 1/11/2013)
Dear Sir: I am opposed to the proposed Tongue River Railroad Company's application due to the risks it poses to humans and nature. The environmental impact statement for the proposed Tongue River Railroad should analyze the following: Climate change impacts: The Tongue River Railroad will allow coal that should stay in the ground to be excavated, transported, shipped and finally burned in Asia. Transporting the polluter overseas does not eliminate the global cost. The proposal will fuel intolerable, decades-long increases in carbon dioxide emissions. Public health: In addition to the climate change impacts, transporting this coal to Asia puts our health at risk as smoke plumes and dangerous participles are blown to our shores. Thus it is not only Chinese people's health put at risk by this proposal but that of thousands and thousands of American residents along the west coast. There are additional health risks that must be analyzed, including potential respiratory problems resulting from the mining and transportation of the coal. Traffic problems could yield dangerous results for surrounding communities all along the proposed train line. 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 one coal company giant, Arch Coal, which intends to sell the coal to China and other Asian countries. Wildlife: The Tongue River Valley is rich in wildlife habitat and home to outstanding 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. Noise: The loud trains will ruin the quiet enjoyment of nearby recreation areas near Miles City. I strongly encourage a thorough and objective review of all possible impacts from this proposal, particularly those to the environment & public health. Such an assessment will surely demonstrate how this proposal is flawed and should be rejected. Yours sincerely, Stacia Miller
Submitted by: Stacia Miller · Federal Way, 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-19911 · back to the docket sheet