Comment EI-22353
Received or sent (printed as 4/28/2016)
Dear Mr. Navecky: I am concerned about the taking of private property by a private company using eminent domain. GLB is requesting a 200’ right of way to go through prime farmland in Ogle County, IL. That is approximately 24 acres per mile of track. In addition, GLB proposes overpasses over existing railroads, interstates, and state highways. The amount of soil removal to create the long grade to make a 1% grade for the overpass will take additional prime farmland out of production for borrow pits. I have seen no mention how many additional acres will be required in borrow pits. In addition, during construction of rail lines, existing field drainage tiles will be destroyed causing standing water along the proposed railroad. Without existing tiles, some fields along the railroad may become unfarmable. Another concern is the rural roads that will be closed because GLB determines that they are in sparsely populated areas. Years ago, the planners decided that enough people lived on those roads to gravel and continue to maintain them. A private, out of state company should not be granted power to close roads in our county. In emergency situations, first responders will have to go way out of their way to get to people needing immediate assistance. Many rural farms have grain bins on them. Minutes count when responding to someone trapped in a grain bin or pinned under a tractor, etc. I am also very concerned at the proposed speed of up to 70 mph for the trains and the proposed 110 trains that GLB states on their website that they expect to have traveling the rails per day. The speed will cause derailments and the number of trains will often have people waiting for trains. When a farmer’s field is divided by the railroad, how will he safely cross the tracks with a combine, grain cart, and semi during harvest with 70 mph trains every 15 minutes. The grain hauler will have to make many trips across the tracks dividing his field during harvest to get the crop out. In addition, the proposed route traverses and runs alongside many waterways. In a derailment, how would oil, gas, or other dangerous substances be contained and cleaned up. This will be very dangerous for all involved. I hope that you will reject GLB’s request for this unnecessary railroad. Furthermore, I urge the STB to conduct a full review of the GLB project and not grant an Exemption if requested by GLB. Thank you for considering my concerns. Lynn Burch
Submitted by: Lynn Burch · Lindenwood, 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-22353 · back to the docket sheet