Comment EI-20836
Received or sent (printed as 12/19/2014)
Hello Mr. Dave Navecky, I am writing the STB in concern over the Port Canaveral Cargo Rail Extension in its current proposed state. The issues I have with this plan are numerous, but I would appreciate if you address these specific concerns in your final draft of the EIS. Our non-tidal lagoons (banana and Indian River), Manatee Preserve, and Wildlife Refuge that will be affected by this plan are local economic engines and precious. These areas attract visitors and greatly improve the quality of life for our residents. Water Resources: The lagoons that will be in the projected path of the current Port Canaveral Rail plan are non-tidal coastal lagoons. Historic wind driven flow has been choked for decades by the earthen causeways that line the space coast. Will this projected rail plan utilize proven lagoon choking earthen causeways? If so how much is projected to be earthen? How will this earthen berm section impede the already restricted flow on the Banana River Lagoon? How does this change of flow affect dispersal of vital seagrasses? Florida’s 2.7 million acres of seagrass supports both commercial and recreational fisheries that provide a wealth of benefits to the state’s economy. Adding the economic value of the nutrient cycling function of seagrasses, commercial harvests, eco-tourism, and the value of recreational/charter fisheries the FDEP has estimated that each acre of seagrass in Florida has an economic value of approximately $20,500 per year. Adding to that, the realization that the north Banana River is the last stronghold of healthy on the entirety of that lagoon; the $20,500 would certainly grow to an unknown number! Many of our lagoon seagrass beds have vanished or are vanishing at an alarming rate! What is the economic impact of the seagrass beds that will be covered or filled over by the construction of this railway? What are the projected economic loses from a spill of the expected cargo (and future potential cargo) due to seagrass loss? How will this reduced flow affect the daily movements, larva dispersal, migratory, feeding, and breeding of key lagoon species like Spotted Seatrout, redfish, snook, tarpon, bullshark, blackdrum, sheepshead, brown shrimp, grass shrimp, fiddler crab, blue crab, pinfish, stripped mullet, silver/white mullet, pigfish, Atlantic croaker, spadefish, goby’s, pipefish, Menhaden, bull minnows, southern kingfish, weakfish, sandperch, sand trout, sea robin, and tripletail, sharks, rays, bottlenose dolphin, and Florida Manatee? How will this constrained flow affect algae blooms, and bacteria blooms? How will increased negative blooms affect the areas residences human, fish, and animals? How will a spill of any expected/projected cargo affect these blooms? When do these blooms most commonly happen? Biological Resources: The Merritt Island wildlife refuge and surrounding waters of the Indian River Lagoon, Banana River lagoon have an economic impact of 3.7 billion annually to our local economy. These areas; especially the area being looked at for industrialization by this current rail concept is virtually untouched. The south end of NASA property (ie. Barge Canal, Kars Park to NASA causeway shoreline) have in no current long-term plans (until now) slated for any development by NASA. Our visitors and locals enjoy seeing our wildlife healthy and happy. Of the hundreds of animals, plants, birds, invertebrates, fish, trees, and marine mammals found in the path of this current plan many are endangered or threatened. How will this projected rail path displace or interrupt species of special concern like redfish, seatrout, tarpon, Golden Leather Fern, Sea Rosemary, Four-petal Pawpaw, Cup Lichen, Largeflower False Rosemary, Lakela's Mint, Johnson's Seagrass, Caribbean Apple Cactus, Erect Prickly Pear, Royal Fern, Tiny Polygala, Northern Needleleaf, Giant Airplant, Spreading Airplant, Carter's Mustard, Sturgeon, Sawfish, Mangrove Rivulus, American Alligator, Loggerhead Sea Turtle, Green Sea Turtle, Leatherback Sea Turtle, Eastern Indigo Snake, Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle, Gopher Tortoise, Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle, Gopher Frog, Alligator Snapping Turtle, Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake, Florida Pine Snake, Florida Scrub Jay, Limpkin, Burrowing Owl, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Crested Caracara, Piping Plover, Kirtland's Warbler, Little Blue Heron, Reddish Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Southeastern American Kestrel, Florida Sandhill Crane, American Oystercatcher, Wood Stork, Brown Pelican, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Roseate Spoonbill, Everglade Snail Kite, Black Skimmer’ Least Tern, Roseate Tern, Silver Rice Rat, Southeastern Beach Mouse, Florida Mouse, Florida Manatee, Florida Black Bear, white mangrove, black mangrove, buttonwood, turtle grass, manatee grass, widgeon grass, shoal grass, paddle grass, star grass, salt marsh cord grass, saltwort, and American glasswort? Will the EIS plan take into cosideration the several Bald Eagle nests this rail will impact? Cumulative Impacts: The effects of poor planning and disastrous management for decades along the lagoons are coming to a head. The waters that once supported vast amounts of seagrass and life are now becoming desolate waste lands. Many of the lagoons cleaning and filtering animals, grasses, and microorganisms have disappeared. Will the EIS address potential for dangerous commodities to be spilled on multiple occasions and that’s effect on the ecology of this area? Will the EIS study all potential commodities that will be carried? Will the Port and operating company have limits of the materials transported through sensitive waters and lands? Will the Port and associated rail operator be unable to transport materials that cumulative impacts have not been studied? Will the EIS take growth into account? Is expansion and increase cargo load count needed to obtain viability of Port Canaveral Cargo Rail? Will this EIS to account for increased usage and can/will limits be put in place? Will the Port rail be allowed to operate over the amount of rail usage studied in the EIS? Will long term studies on the effects of commercial conversion in wildlife preserves be looked at? How will this current rail plan interact with the lagoon and lands 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 years from now? Many people did not care to ask that last question years ago. Let’s not make the same mistakes! As a concerned citizen I ask that the STB is diligent in investigating these and the many other issues that a project of this scope can unearth. This should also include the projected growth and increased rail traffic the Port Authority will adopt! I believe a well-rounded EIS is necessary to determine if the true cost of this current plan is far too high. The areas will play host to this railway long after we have gone, and will still be in the eyesight of our children. The 528 corridor seems to be the best and only option available that would not have drastic impacts on our already fragile lagoon and refuge. A less desirable version, but still better than earthen berms; would be elevated truss for the entire length and not one scoop of fill dirt used. Is the 3.7 Billon our lagoons and refuge bring this economy worth risking for a few cargo rail jobs? Thank You
Submitted by: Alex Gorichky · No Fill No Kill · Merritt Island, Florida
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-20836 · back to the docket sheet