Comment EI-21811
Received or sent (printed as 4/6/2016)
I would like to take the time to address the proposed Great Lakes Basin Railroad that is proposed to go from Wisconsin to Indiana, cutting through prime farmland areas in my home county of Grundy. The lack of information regarding this project before landing at the STB is in my opinion an attempt to avoid the rights of the citizens to be heard in this matter. The overall impact on the environment from a project of this scope truly needs to be considered. It will interfere with Eagle nesting grounds and crane migration, not to mention adding a potential for hazardous spills in one of the several rivers it will cross. It will negatively impact the agriculture industry in our county, land locking some parcels and completely destroying others. An agriculture industry and tourist destination such as the Olive Berry Acres farm in Mazon would be completely eliminated, a farm and agritourist company that has spent years of hard labor and countless dollars to provide safe and affordable produce to those who visit, often from hours away. This will have a negative impact on the numbers of tourists brought to the county who add to the economic growth needed to meet current budget issues within our county. The Mazon area where this line is proposed to go through already has a BNSF line that sees upwards of 80 high speed trains a day, the addition of the Great Lakes Basin line would add another 100 or more trains to the daily traffic. The noise and vibrations of over doubling the traffic will have adverse outcomes on structures as well as livestock grown in the area. The route of the proposed rail cuts across the county in a way that it will create numerous crossings in rural areas what could prevent fire district personnel from responding to a rural home in a timely manner. Mazon Fire Protection District as well as the Verona Kinsman Fire Protection District are volunteer based districts, providing not enough coverage in the case of a train related emergency in the area. I hope you will take into consideration these matters and deny the Great Lakes Basin Railroad proposition from moving forward. Sincerely, Greg Litchfield
Submitted by: Greg Litchfield · Morris, 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-35952/comment/EI-21811 · back to the docket sheet