Comment EI-16306
Received or sent (printed as 1/15/2009)
First I would like to commend you for writing an Environmental Impact Statement that is understandable to the general public. I found the DEIS easy to understand and appreciated that most of the more technical terms were explained in context. One addition I feel would help the reader have a better understanding of the proposed rail extension would be if in each of the maps provided about the alternatives for the rail route the preferred alternative of the Alaska Railroad Corporation was some how denoted. For example in the map of the Eielson alternatives one, two and three it would have been beneficial to have alternative three some how denoted as the preferred alternative. Secondly after reviewing the DEIS I was left with some questions I felt the current document did not cover. In section two, Proposed Action and Alternatives, section 2.3.4 about vegetation resources there is the statement that vegetation would be impacted “through the spread of noxious and invasive plants.” I feel that this statement should have better language; it leaves me with the feeling that the Alaska Railroad Corporation is going to be intentionally bringing invasive species into the area. I think this could be fix with a small amount of rewording. The second question I had was about permafrost. There is some discussion in the DEIS about permafrost, but I wanted to know if there are going to be any issues with the rail tracks themselves melting the permafrost. Also will there be any problems associated with the settling of the tracks do to melting permafrost? This may lead to the need for repairs in the future and further damage done to the surrounding environment. My last concern is the amount of wetlands being filled in or changed because of the project. I know that this is unavoidable if the project goes through, and I hope that a lot of thought goes into which alternatives for the rail route damage the least amount of wetlands. Our wetlands are a valuable resource that should be seriously thought about when the final decision is made. Thank you for considering my comment in this process.
Submitted by: Vanessa Willcox-Healey · Anchorage, AK
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-34658/comment/EI-16306 · back to the docket sheet