Comment EI-22641
Received or sent (printed as 5/10/2016)
The risk from creosote railroad ties: The most common exposure to creosote is via direct skin contact with creosote contaminated soil. Thus, exposure of local residents to creosote on railroad ties could come via the following vectors: Children – playing around or NEAR tracks and ingesting creosote laden dirt via unwashed hands. Children or adults breathing vapors from freshly treated railroad ties or water soaked from heavy rains or ties in standing water and water evaporating into the atmosphere. *note that all of the above also apply to utility poles, bridges, and fence posts that would be installed or used alongside railroad lines. And finally, anyone or anything (animals) who drinks ground water that is contaminated by creosote is at risk. This risk would be dependent on how much creosote is present and where the water comes from. For example, if you are dealing with a single set of old train tracks near your house and a municipal water system, the likelihood of contamination is going to be low. But, if you are dealing with NEWLY INSTALLED 6 TRACK RAILROAD like the one proposed, creosote laden ties, this would present a much HIGHER RISK. Drinking water that is taken from groundwater near railroad facilities are at a much higher risk of being contaminated with creosote. This is of particular concern where drinking water supplies are unregulated, such as in rural areas and where people have private wells." This contaminant is not going to stay within the designated railroad right away it is going to migrate into the existing field tiles and make its way to the waterways that these filed tiles are draining to and in turn contaminate that water source too. The people that will be impacted from this railroad are not just the ones being forced to live next to it will be anyone that gets its drinking water from these waterways. Brief exposure to large amounts of coal tar creosote may result in a rash or severe irritation of the skin, chemical burns of the surfaces of the eye, convulsions and mental confusion, kidney or liver problems, unconsciousness, or even death. Longer exposure to lower levels of creosote can also result in increased sensitivity to sunlight, damage to the cornea, and skin damage such as reddening, blistering, or peeling. Longer exposures to the vapors of the creosotes can also cause irritation of the respiratory tract. Skin cancer and cancer of the scrotum have also resulted from long exposure to low levels of this chemical. The risks are much higher if you are exposed to it in groundwater, food, air, or soil. Please don't allow this railroad to destroy the lives of the people, animals and waterways. Deny them from moving forward."
Submitted by: Daniel Kloos
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-22641 · back to the docket sheet