Comment EI-22158
Received or sent (printed as 4/15/2016)
To: David.navecky@stb.dot.gov" <David.navecky@stb.dot.gov> From: Amy Nystrom <anenjn@yahoo.com> Date: 04/15/2016 11:34PM Subject: Amy- please get back to me as soon as possible!! Hi David, My husband and I own the farm on the south east corner of Winnebago county in Illinois. Frank's proposed railroad not only denies us access to our 3 year new $600,000 dream home that my husband built with his own hands, but also goes within just a few feet of 5 private wells that risk contamination. The biggest problem of all is that it runs all the way through our 110 acre farm that is our kids future and goes through a 600-650 foot flood plain on the cleanest river in northern Illinois- the kishwaukee river. This river floods multiple times over the summer all along the back of our property. Flood waters are continuing to worsen each year due to increased development in Dekalb County. Right now I have multiple people drafting letters on how this is COMPLETELY not feasible on this property. The army corps of engineers in Winnebago county looked at the proposed track on our property and laughed- what a complete joke!! They said no way!! The state laws are very strict on this area of flood zone. There's not a bridge that would be safe enough in a flood plain of this nature. Especially carrying train cars transporting hazardous chemical, coal and fertilizer. Just a couple years ago a train a few miles away went through a SMALL flooded area of track on Mulford road. The flood waters derailed the train and it killed 2 people. It also spilled hazardous waste. Even another reason this is completely not feasible on this 110 acres is that the track runs through my husbands tree farm that is approximately 5 acres. It has established trees valued at approximately $500,000. Please contact me as soon as possible. We will be at the meetings Tuesday where I will present all of this information in more detail. If you are around Winnebago county this weekend, please come out to our estate and take a look. It will immediately show you that this route needs to be changed immediately if not sooner. Frank has wasted so much of my time and my husbands time. I have done hours of research on a track that isn't even necessary. There are multiple tracks that can be used for this purpose. Frank should look at utilizing existing tracks or running along existing tracks. Cutting right down the center of thousands of farmers property is immoral and unethical. What is he thinking? How selfish to think this is leaving a legacy for his kids- he's trying to destroy a legacy of THOUSANDS of farmers that put food on his table and feed his children. These farms are legacys to the farmers children. I am emailing you a picture of our farm. You will see that this needs to change right away. Please come out if you can this weekend. Amy Nystrom 815-509-0446 anenjn@yahoo.com"
Submitted by: Amy Nystrom
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-22158 · back to the docket sheet