Comment EI-21932
Received or sent (printed as 4/10/2016)
Regarding the proposed rail line in N.W.Indiana, the route does not consider changes in elevation which are very significant. Near the rail crossing at IN State Rt. 2 east if I-65, the elevation is 665ft. One miles north it is 43 feet higher, well beyond a grade allowable for easy rail movement. Excavating and filling earth in that area will create an environmental nightmare, since the drainage in that area flows from north to south. The cut thru the area north of Rt. 2 will be severe and cause much erosion of agricultural lands. The rail route crosses and renders useless several grassed waterways installed under the guidance of the NRCS, a federal agency. Northwestern Indiana is home to many abandoned rail right of ways which provide for minimal grade changes and have existing drainage systems in place. Some of these right of ways could be revived to provide a viable route that would cause little damage to the terrain in comparison to the proposed route. The snake like route of the line inundates viable agricultural sections which are laid out to provide for efficient planting and harvesting of crops by large machinery. Fields with irrigation systems bisected by the line could no longer be irrigated.
Submitted by: John Bryant · Hebron, IN
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-21932 · back to the docket sheet