Comment EI-22141
Received or sent (printed as 4/11/2016)
To: david.navecky@stb.dot.gov" <david.navecky@stb.dot.gov> From: Kathy Lowery <dkl1028@sbcglobal.net> Date: 04/11/2016 02:13PM Subject: Docket No. FD35952 Re:DOCKET No. FD35952. April 11, 2016 ATTN: Dave Navecky We want to express our concerns about the proposed Great Lakes Basin railroad that could be cutting our county in half with its suggested route. Grundy County, Illinois contains some of the most fertile soils in the U.S. and the land these railroad tracks would cut through will be permanently destroyed, during and after construction. Farming roots run deep in our family and we've been proud to be involved with agriculture. We've worked hard to preserve and protect the land we've had the privilege to farm and want to pass that legacy on to future generations. BUT... Grundy County, IL...and others along the route...have many land owners and farm operators that are involved with the USDA's Conservation Programs...including CRP that are usually 10-15 year contracts. Some new contracts were written after the 2014 Farm Bill was written; others were already in force. These quoted reference points are only some of the provisions agreed to when signing a contract. How many will be adhered to by the Great Lakes Basin Transportation group? (The following were taken from an actual signed 2015 contract.) "Participants agree to not harvest or sell, nor otherwise make commercial use of, trees or forage or other cover on CRP land, including the shearing or shaping of trees,...(and so on)." (#4 Agreement portion, part 5) "Participants agree not to undertake any action on land under the participant's control which tends to defeat the purpose of this contract, as determined by CCC." (#4 Agreement portion, part 6) "Participants agree to control all weeds, insects, pests and other undesirable species to the extent necessary to ensure that the establishment and maintenance of the approved cover is adequately protected,...(and so on)." (#4 Agreement portion, part 8) "Participants agree not to disturb the acreage under contract during the primary nesting and brood rearing season for wildlife, except if approved by CCC." (#4 Agreement portion, part 9) Other USDA conservation programs, intended to protect land and waterways, will be affected by a railroad project of this magnitude. PLEASE deny this group, Great Lakes Basin Transportation, from moving forward with their railroad plans. This family STRONGLY OPPOSES the GLB railroad! Thank you for listening. Sincerely, Douglas and Kathleen Lowery...1635 S. Dwight Rd., Mazon, IL 60444"
Submitted by: Douglass and Kathleen Lowery
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.
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