Comment EI-3521
Received or sent (printed as 1/16/2008)
Canadian National Railway's acquisition of the EJ&J railroad will cause SEVERE DETRIMENT to our environment and health. CN's proposed 500% annual increase of trains running through our backyard will certainly lead to death. According to the EPA and the Union of Concerned Scientists, diesel pollution and soot is deadly, and it causes premature mortality through cancer, respiratory illnesses and heart disease. Their studies have shown a 26% increase in mortality in people living in soot-polluted cities. We can not afford to have an ADDITIONAL 8,000 trains running through our neighborhood train tracks every year. My family and I live in Bartlett, less than one mile west of the RR crossing on W. Bartlett Road. But more importantly, my young twins will soon be attending Nature Ridge Elementary School that is only about 2500 feet from the RR crossing! This is too close for ANY child to be to a source of heavy amounts of deadly pollution on a daily basis. Beyond this, the extra proposed cars will be carrying extremely hazardous material. Just 2 years ago, CN had an awful hazmat spill that affected ground water and forced people from their homes. The surrounding environment will take a lifetime to recover. Beyond the scope of health and pollution issues, there is an equally important concern I have . . . emergency services. In the event that our neighborhood tracks are blocked, I will not be able to get my son to the hospital in time to save his life. Justin, my older twin, has severe food allergies. Although we are overly cautious in what we feed him, we always make sure his Epi-Pen is nearby. In the event of my son's next anaphylactic reaction, the effects of his epinephrine injection would wear-off after 15 to 20 minutes. If there is a long or stopped train on our tracks, an ambulance, as well as any other emergency vehicle, will NOT be able to get through in time to save my son’s life. 911 would become useless in some instances. Our closest hospital is 15 minutes (9 miles) away. In an emergency, will the 20+ extra trains yield to those in a life or death situation? Will fire trucks or the Bartlett police get the right of way before a train? I think not. In conclusion, I beg you to PLEASE block CN’s acquisition of EJ&E.
Submitted by: Michelle Henson · Bartlett, IL
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-35087/comment/EI-3521 · back to the docket sheet