Comment EI-22155
Received or sent (printed as 4/14/2016)
To: david.navecky@stb.dot.gov From: James Marshall <jim1111@icloud.com> Date: 04/14/2016 03:56PM Subject: Great Lakes Basin Rail Line Project Dear Mr. Navecky I am writing you as a concerned land owner in Kanakee and Will Counties in Illinois to voice my opposition over the proposed plan to build the Great Lakes Basin Rail line. My family has been a land owner in the area of the proposed project for well over 100 years and we pride ourselves in supporting the needs of the agricultural community. Upon inspecting the details of the proposed rail line project I was shocked at the potential for environmental damage due to fact that the rail line will be transporting oil and other dangerous chemicals. To be sure, the environmental issues that surround this project are not entirely different than the environmental issues that surrounded the XL Keystone pipeline (which, as you know was vetoed by President Obama). Specifically, the risk of a spill and it's impact on the environment and on the population of the affected area. Further more, the area of the proposed project is also the location of an aquifer system similar to the system located in the Sand Hills area and just as important to the region. Above all, what I find most troubling is the fact that transporting oil and other hazardous chemicals by rail car is far riskier that transporting them by pipeline as I am sure you are aware. In reference to the estimates for significant spills associated with the XL Keystone Pipeline that ranged from 11 to 91 in the projected 50 year life span of the pipeline, I would be curious to know what the projected number of spills for this project will be. It should also be pointed out that pipeline spills generally occur at isolated spots where a train could derail anywhere! I have no doubt the STB will be taking a detailed look at this project and I am confident that the environmental issues that I have raised are already being considered. What amplifies my concern is the lack of rail road experience the leaders of GLB Rail Line have and their inability to develop a plan to respond to any safety concerns that no doubt will arise from the project. Also, I would think the question of why this project was not proposed by one of the major rail carriers who have the benefit of decades of experience when it comes to building rail road lines would need to be examined. In conclusion the last question that should be asked is spending $8 billion and disrupting the livelihood of countless agricultural professionals worth saving a meager 15-20 hours on a rail road shipment? Sincerely, James Marshall Deldun Farms LLC
Submitted by: James Marshall · Deldun Farms LLC
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-22155 · back to the docket sheet