Comment EI-23048
Received or sent (printed as 5/30/2016)
I have numerous concerns about the proposed Great Lakes Basin Railroad Project. I understand that this project would result in numerous trains per day, as many as one every 15 minutes, going through prime Illinois farmland. I also understand that this rail line is to carry freight, which would include numerous types of hazardous materials. Any type of train mishap, such as derailments, could have devastating environmental damage which could contaminate and poison the soil and perhaps even the water table. The physical presence of the railroad will result in the loss of a substantial amount of farmland, and any accidental mishap would result in even more loss. Besides the loss of top soil, there could be chemical contamination of the water table. If you have ever seen a train derailment with a resulting fire of highly toxic and volatile chemicals, it leaves a lasting impression of the dangers transporting these materials that can occur. Any type of rail line will also inhibit migration routes of deer and other animal life in Illinois, forcing them to funnel into roads that go over/under the railroad tracks. This will result in increased numbers of dangerous animal-vehicle accidents. Emergency vehicles will also be affected, slowing down their response time. The response time is already pretty high due to the rural nature. Besides having to navigate around the tracks, emergency vehicles could be blocked at the crossings due to the presence of the train. Also, the physical presence of the railroad roadway will negatively impact drainage in the area. We have recently seen storms in our area occur that have exceeded the 100 year flood basis more that once in a lifetime. I believe that this project would cause an increase in major flood damage to the area. This would result in even more loss of productive farmland and increased costs of residential and farm building damage, along with increased insurance premiums for residents and farmers. I believe there are too many risks, both environmental and physical, for this project to proceed. Please stop this.
Submitted by: Larry E. Nickels · Morris, 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-23048 · back to the docket sheet