Comment EI-18170
Received or sent (printed as 5/10/2010)
TO: Surface Transportation Board RE: STB Finance Docket No. 35095 SUBJECT: Environmental Comment by Randi Hirschmann David Navecky Surface Transportation Board 395 E Street, SW Washington, DC 20423-0001 Attention: STB Finance Docket No. 35095 Dear Staff, If we have to recommend a new extension of the Alaska Railroad from The Parks Hwy to Port McKenzie, please consider following the Willow Route. I think this route will have the least impact on our pristine recreational areas, wildlife, and wetland areas. The Houston route is the most detrimental and harmful to our wetlands and bisects some of the most pristine and frequently used recreational lands in South Central Alaska. Along the Houston route are numerous streams, creeks, lakes and wetlands that are home to an abundance of birds, fish and wildlife with many species using this area for breeding and raising their young. A railroad grade greatly changes the natural flow of wetlands. The Draft EIS states that initially only 2 trains a day will come through the selected route. The Draft EIS ignores the possibility of greater railroad traffic. It is important to look at the possibility of fuel oil, coal and other hazardous materials being transported by the trains going to Port McKenzie. Wetlands are the worse place to have a fuel spill. We have had major derailments on the Alaska Railroad with tankers of fuel being spilled. The Big Lake Route would be my second choice, because it crosses drier glacial till, but is less desirable due to human population density involved. From very early public meetings a few years ago, the Alaska Railroad and the Mat Su Borough seemed to prefer the Houston Route, which offers the shortest distance the railway would have to be built. They, of course, are looking at the bottom line even though at the most recent public meetings last month, they stated they have no preferences. They want the route that will be the most economic to develop, but will have the greatest damage to our wetlands, wildlife and pristine country. Remember too, wetlands are expensive to fill and a railroad grade built on boggy terrain is subject to frost heaving and subsidence due to the soggy organic base. Also to my dismay, I have heard that the survey team who conducted the surveys of the three possible routes to Port McKenzie was advised to put most of their money into the Houston route. It is very frustrating and disappointing to think that the private for profit Alaska Railroad and a very pro development Mat Su Borough can carry so much weight and preferential influence in this decision. One wonders if these public meetings are more of a formality than a process that really represents the individual. Thank you for your time and consideration of my comments, Randi Hirschmann
Submitted by: Randi Hirschmann · Wasilla, 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-35095/comment/EI-18170 · back to the docket sheet