Comment EI-16361
Received or sent (printed as 2/2/2009)
On behalf of the State of Alaska's Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Areas, and the public, I wish to restate our request for a 60 day extension of the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Alaska Railroad Corporation Construction and Operation of a Rail Line between North Pole and Delta Junction, Alaska (STB Finance Docket No. 35468). We believe that the public interest would be served by such an extension. The initial 52 day public comment period is simply inadequate for the public to review and comment on an environmental impact statement that, with appendices, is more that 1100 pages in length. Federal land management agencies in Alaska routinely provide a minimum 60 day review and comment period for planning documents, environmental impact statements and proposed revisions to regulations and policies. More often, comments periods of 90 or 120 days are provided. The comment period allowed for this document appears to be a pro forma effort rather than a resonable effort to provide the public with a meaningful review period. We are particularly concerned that the public may not be fully aware of the restrictions on access across any lands or right of way conveyed to the ARR for this extension. These restrictions would prevent the public from accessing public lands that are regularly used for hunting, fishing and other activities. Additional time to review this proposal and identify essential access across the right of way is needed. While we understand that the Department of Natural Resources is working on the issue of public access to state owned lands, it is unclear if a similar effort is underway for access to federal public lands. These lands are important for recreational and subsistence hunting and fishing. We again urge you to extend the public comment period for an additional 60 days. Additionally, consideration should be given to holding additional public meetings which focus primarily on the access issue to both state and federal lands. Thank you. Stan Leaphart Executive Director Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Areas
Submitted by: Stan Leaphart · Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Areas · Fairbanks, 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-16361 · back to the docket sheet