Comment EI-21758
Received or sent (printed as 3/29/2016)
I am writing you today to urge you to stop Great Lakes Basin Railroad from constructing their proposed railroad. This railroad would be disastrous to the rural residents in the affected areas. Great Lakes Basin Railroad is a private firm seeking to use eminent domain for private gain. Allowing this is not acceptable. Union Pacific Railroad has already publically stated this proposed new rail line is unneeded. Great Lakes Basin Railroad does not even own a single train; they are simply a developer seeking to build something other railroad companies say is unnecessary. Great Lakes Basin Railroad’s plan to scar rural Illinois with a 5 track wide high speed rail line, carrying 100 trains per day, at 70 miles per hour will have grave consequences on the environment. Rivers will be impacted by new bridges and the resulting pollution from the construction of the bridges and the daily train traffic. Not to mention the destruction of the river banks. Streams, seasonal and permanent will be blocked by the tracks, resulting in marshlands and stagnant water, breading ground for mosquitos and disease. The Wild Turkey which is making a dramatic comeback in the area after being declared in 1910 extinct in Illinois will have its comeback curtailed. Numerous endangered flora and fauna will be further threatened. The delicate ecosystems along these tracks will be in upheaval. Preserving rural Illinois is the key to protecting and preserving endangered native plants that may hold the cure for cancer and other deadly diseases. If nothing else these rare species provide the world with more diversity and beauty. My family’s farm, which has been in our family for 120 years, is targeted to have this unneeded rail line run through the heart of it. Many will say you can not stop progress, but this is not progress this is an abuse of the eminent domain laws. This is railroad is not for the public’s gain this is for Great Lakes Basin Railroad’s gain. Abuse is also what Great Lakes Basin Railroad is delivering to the bravest of the brave our local volunteer first responders. How are the limited resources and volunteer crews in rural Illinois, going to fight a train derailment? My home town, Serena, IL has at most 20 all volunteer first responders. These are the bravest men and women in America and they should not be asked to risk their lives simply because Great Lakes Basin Railroad wants to run trains carrying hazardous chemicals and other freight at 70 miles per hour through rural Illinois and over the Rock, Fox, Illinois, and Kankakee Rivers. What will happen when a train derails over one of the affected rivers? Abuse is also what Great Lakes Basin Railroad seeks to deliver to the residents of the affected areas. No family should be subjected to 100 trains per day running through their backyard. No town, no matter how small, should be forced to have the constant drone of the train. Great Lakes Basin Railroad plans to abuse these towns and home owners by running one train every 13 minutes along its line, more if demand increases. The sheer volume of noise from trains running at 70 miles per hour is unimaginable. I am urging you to save rural Illinois by helping stop Great Lakes Basin Railroad’s proposed rail line. Sincerely, Dennis Scheppler 212 North Owen Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Submitted by: Dennis Scheppler · Mount Prospect, Illinois
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-35952/comment/EI-21758 · back to the docket sheet