Comment EI-5161
Received or sent (printed as 2/14/2008)
What gurantee is the promised offset in rail traffic promised in Chicago would remain in place over time/would not increase? What impact would the proposal have on any plans to expand commuter rail service in the effected communites like Barrington and Lake Zurich (Northwest and North Suburbs)? I strongly oppose the proposal if it would interfere in any way with the expansion of commuter rail service. There are housing units in Lake Zurich that appear to be less than 100 feet from the rail lines that will be impacted. What is the safety (hazardous materials) and noise pollution impact for these residents? Case Title: CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY COMPANY AND GRAND TRUNK CORPORATION--CONTROL--EJ&E WEST COMPANY Decision Type: Decision Deciding Body: Chief Of Section Of Environmental Analysis Decision Summary Decision Notes: DECISION PROVIDED NOTICE OF EXTENDED PUBLIC SCOPING PERIOD IN THIS PROCEEDING. Full Text of Decision 38760 SERVICE DATE – JANUARY 30, 2008 SEA SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD STB Finance Docket No. 35087 CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAY COMPANY AND GRAND TRUNK CORPORATION– CONTROL– EJ&E WEST COMPANY Decision No. 6 Decided: January 30, 2008 NOTICE TO THE PARTIES: The Surface Transportation Board’s Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) announces the extension of the scoping period for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that is being prepared in connection with an application filed by Canadian National Railroad Company (CN) to acquire certain rail lines of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad (EJ&E). SEA is preparing an EIS because the Surface Transportation Board has determined that the proposed acquisition has the potential to result in significant effects upon the environment within the meaning of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). CN’s proposed acquisition of the EJ&E would shift rail traffic currently moving over CN’s rail lines inside the EJ&E arc in Chicago to the EJ&E, which traverses the suburbs generally to the west and south of Chicago. Rail traffic on CN lines inside the EJ&E arc would generally decrease. The decreases in rail traffic would be offset by increases in the number of trains operating on the EJ&E rail line outside of Chicago (approximately 15-27 more trains would operate on various segments of the EJ&E). CN also proposes to construct six new rail connections and approximately 19 miles of new sidings/double tracking. CN gives three primary reasons for seeking approval of the proposed acquisition: improved rail operations in the Chicago area; availability to EJ&E’s Kirk Yard in Gary, Indiana, and other smaller facilities in Joliet, Illinois, and Whiting, Indiana; and improved service to companies dealing in steel, chemicals, and petrochemicals, as well as Chicago area utilities. Because this proposal has the potential to result in significant environmental impacts, the Board has determined that the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is appropriate. To help determine the scope of the EIS, and as required by the Board’s regulations at 49 CFR 1105.10(a)(2), SEA published in the Federal Register and made available to the public on December 21, 2008, the Notice of Availability of Draft Scope of Study for the EIS, Notice of Scoping Meetings, and Request for Comments. SEA held seven public scoping meetings in the project area between January 9 and 22, 2008. The scoping comment period originally was scheduled to conclude on February 1, 2008, but in response to requests, SEA is extending the scoping period an additional 14 days, to February 15, 2008. Scoping comments must be post-marked no later than February 15th. If you wish to submit written comments regarding the proposed draft scope, which was mailed to you previously but which is also available on the Board’s website under “Environmental Matters,” “Key Cases” and “CN-EJ&E Acquisition,” please send your comments to: Surface Transportation Board 395 E Street, SW Washington, DC 20423 Attention: Phillis Johnson-Ball Environmental Filing STB Finance Docket No. 35087 Scoping comments may also be filed electronically on the Board’s website, www.stb.dot.gov, by clicking on the “E_FILING” link. You do not need a Login Account to submit Environmental Comments. Simply click on “Environmental Comments,” which will take you to the comment screen. Type in the docket number, which is “FD 35087.” Select “Phillis Johnson-Ball” in the drop down list under “attention of.” Then complete the form by adding your name, address, phone and email, and click “Submit.” You may also call your scoping comments into SEA’s toll-free hotline established for this proceeding. Dial 1-800–347-0689 and leave your comments after the tone. Following these directions will help ensure that your scoping comments are considered in the environmental review process for this proposed acquisition. In addition, SEA will add your name to its mailing list for distribution of the final scope of the EIS, the DEIS, and Final EIS (FEIS). This is the first opportunity to submit comments during the environmental review process. SEA will afford additional opportunities, including asking for comments on the Draft EIS after SEA issues that document. Questions may be directed to Phillis Johnson-Ball, SEA Project Manager, toll-free at 1-800-347-0689 (TDD for the hearing impaired 1-800-877-8339). The website for the Surface Transportation Board is www.stb.dot.gov. This document is available in English and Spanish by calling the toll-free number at 1-800-347-0689. By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental Analysis. Anne K. Quinlan Acting Secretary
Submitted by: Ken Skord · Lake Zurich, 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-5161 · back to the docket sheet