Comment EI-20776
Received or sent (printed as 12/17/2014)
I am writing in protest and complete non-support of a railway from Port Canaveral that adds railway and crossings over the Banana River and over vast wetlands of North Merritt Island. The environmental threat to so many living inhabitants of both the land and river is huge. Not just from permanent construction projects but also from the catastrophic consequences of a spill of hazardous waste that could occur. Spills that could harm humans along with wildlife and poison the land for decades to come. On top of that, the potential threat of security and safety of our nation’s premier space launch sites and the invaluable jobs they support make this railway project unimaginably threatening to the people, environment and jobs of Brevard County, Florida. Indeed, the Kennedy Space Center is just too important of a national asset to put it and its employees at risk of harm from accidental spills and intentional acts of terrorism. This is the only space port in the United States of America that supports launching humans into space. It is simply not worth any added risk to use the Kennedy Space Center as a commercial shipping route for anyone from anywhere. I'm also hearing that the KSC evaluation of potential use of their existing railway would require significant and expensive upgrades that may not be known to all. Furthermore, the Banana River is way too delicate for this kind of large scale disruption. Several acres of filling in the river to create new land and building new crossing trestles would no doubt cause immense potential for damage to the river floor and the underwater grasses so vital to all of the river life that depend on them for their lifecycle. Then on to North Merritt Island, across so much natural wetlands that support a tremendous amount of wildlife and the water that is filtered into the Florida aquifer below. With many humans living within just a half of a mile or so, at great risk of harm from any potential hazardous waste spills along with the noise infringement. This land is just too fragile with so much natural and native animals and plants that could be harmed. An environment that protects land and river life for all Floridians and is part of the fast disappearing natural environments that help keep the planets climate stable. Just say no to a new railway tying Port Canaveral to Merritt Island. It is not worth the harm it would do to Brevard County’s natural environment; the Banana River and the wetlands of North Merritt Island. The people of Brevard do not need or want such an intrusion with so much potential harm. Port Canaveral does not have to be expanded. It does not have to become a bigger player in import/export of shipped goods. Just say no. If need be, hold a referendum for the voters of Brevard County to make it crystal clear that this is not in the best interest of Brevard County or the land and river environment that we steward over. And if forced to choose a route for a Port Canaveral railway, I am sure a route that follows SR 528 to US 1 would be the preferred route, regardless of the financial cost to build. Money that would just take a few years longer to recoup by the commercial entities involved.
Submitted by: Timothy Anderson · Merritt Island, FL
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-35852/comment/EI-20776 · back to the docket sheet