Comment EI-22646
Received or sent (printed as 5/11/2016)
Document No. FD 35952 Environmental Comment By following the proposed rail line by the Great Lakes Basin Transportation Co. LLC (GLBT) I can see serious flaws in the route they have designated. Because Frank Patton has stated that he wants to avoid major cities and populated areas he has assumed that no matter where he drew his line through the country side it would be good for him and his project. He gave no thought to unintended consequences caused by his choices. There are numerous consequences. 1. Proximity to schools creates danger, health risks, and distractions, extended time on school busses, air pollution and noise pollution. It also slows response times to incidents for emergency services. 2. How does this project plan to deal with existing rail lines that it will have to cross in at least five (5) different locations? Do they have a plan to go over or tunnel under these lines? With and expected number of trains reaching one hundred ten (110) per day they can’t possibly intersect them and cross them like road traffic does. 3. Where the rail line proposes to cross State Route 2 east of I-65 in Indiana it will create serious problems with traffic. It will also cross State Route 2 again in Porter county making the traffic on that road between Lowell and Hebron as well as Valparaiso. If they do an overpass over Route 2 in Porter County Farmers driving combines or tractors attached to large tillage tools will be an accident waiting to happen. The bridge would be too narrow for them to meet oncoming traffic. 4. Where the rail line crosses Route 2 east of I-65 it is next to two major truck stops. With semi traffic at two major truck stops causing backups that could extend onto I-65. It will create a barrier restricting west bound traffic from getting to both I-65 and the town of Lowell. A freight train that could be from seventy (70) to one hundred (100) cars per train with the proposed number of trains passing through there every thirteen (13) minutes it could conceivably kill the town of Lowell. It would restrict growth and could cause people to leave severely hurting the economy of the area. 5. Loss of income from farm production will also cripple the economy in the area. 6. Potential water contamination through spills of toxic and hazardous materials into the ground and field tiles that drain into the Kankakee River would be devastating to ground water (aquafer), to flora and fauna. This is a very real and serious problem. 7. The proximity to state and county parks will destroy programs that are designed for the preservation of historical artifacts, native grasses and historical sites. Also wildlife and flora. 8. The observatory south and east of Lowell would be irreparably damaged by the placement of the rail line. Purdue University along with the historical society and other people and organizations has spent large sums of money on this awesome and valuable facility. 9. The proposed route this rail line has selected has bisected farms it impossible in some cases to reach the landlocked parcels creating a hardship and serious financial losses for the farmers. The land would be unable to be accessed or sold so it would become worthless. It would create a fire hazard since it would grow up into weed and grass fields. During dry weather sparks from the rails could start fires. Another danger to the environment that could create serious problems for the volunteer fire departments all across the area. 10. The Pinney-Purdue Research Farm near Wanatah, Indiana could lose up to seventy five (75) acres of its six hundred thirty four (634) acre farm. This farm straddles the Porter – La Porte County Line that train is expected to use will destroy seventeen (17) years of research on some projects, destroy the farms ability to use its very costly irrigation equipment since the center pivots can’t cross railroad tracks. There are many other examples of unintended consequences that I have failed to mention. What I have done is site just a few examples but I hope the Surface Transportation Board (STB) can see that at every turn there is something that will negatively impact the environment and the economy of the area. For these reasons I would like the STB to deny this project. I have also attached the news story reporting on the problems for the Purdue Research farm that will be caused by GLBR. Thank you for your consideration. Patricia Mussman West Creek Township, Lowell IN
Submitted by: Patricia Mussman · Lowell, IN
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.
The text Purdue Research Farm & GLBR.pdf ↓
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-35952/comment/EI-22646
File docketyard.org/document/fa9f25322948ddb5872088b2ddea529cb27104743ecd4ef964453665a1c94faa.pdf · back to the docket sheet