Comment EI-22201
Received or sent (printed as 4/22/2016)
Mr Navecky I sent the letter below to you via email but am sending again here to be sure it is filed properly and my input is on record and considered. Dear Mr Navecky, I am writing to express my complete and unequivocal opposition to the proposed railroad. In addition to the devastation it would cause to the value of our farm I am very concerned about hazardous waste materials being carried and spilled on our farm. Also, our farm drains excess surface and tiled water from south to north and eventually to a creek to the north. A railroad right in the middle of the field would ruin the tile and prevent surface water from draining to its natural south to north flow resulting in very wet ground no longer suitable to grow productive corn and soybean crops. I am also concerned that the proposed rail line would result in road closures reducing and slowing access of emergency vehicles. Additionally, our 40 acre farm, which is located at N 17000 Rd / W 2000 Rd in Kankakee County, would be split into two approximately 18.5 acre fields. Farmers with 16 to 24 row equipment would not be interested in renting or in the future buying the farm. The value would plummet. The grain harvested currently is transported approximately 1.5 miles to our grain bins on Route 17. If that road is blocked, either permanently, or with parked or heavy train traffic our tenants would be forced to re route to the bins down the Essex Rd making the trip over 5 miles one way. Time in transit would more than triple increasing labor, equipment, and fuel costs. It is safer for slow moving farm equipment to move down the road currently used with less traffic than would inevitably be routed down the Essex Road. Simply put, the railroad, while possibly being profitable for a group of private investors, would be a potential environmental, and financial disaster for our farm and our neighbors. I do not believe private property should be taken away from private citizens for the gain of a group of probably well connected private investors. It is also my understanding that currently no railroad companies have expressed interest in using the rail line. Please consider the rights of and negative impacts this project would force on current owners when considering this proposal. Sincerely, Robert L Schultz PO Box 104 206 E Lincoln St Reddick, IL 60961 Phone: 815-365-2243
Submitted by: Bob Schultz · Reddick, 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-22201 · back to the docket sheet