Comment EI-23373
Received or sent (printed as 6/4/2016)
The proposed rail line cuts through the most productive acreage of my family farm. As a widow, this land provides needed retirement income for me. The railway also divides the farm and would cause difficulties with farm equipment going from one field to another during the peak of planting and harvesting seasons. In addition, there would be difficulties with cultivating and spraying the growing crops in the growing season. Environmentally, the railroad bed would create a dam in the fields preventing adequate drainage. The affected fields contain a system of agricultural drainage tiles which would be rendered useless and would prohibit the water from draining into the Kankakee River, creating a wet land or swamp in the affected fields (not to mention a breeding ground for mosquitoes.) Currently, the existing tile systems effectively provide adequate drainage, emptying flooded areas after a heavy rain in a timely manner. The rail line would take fields out of production and turn them into a swampland with no drainage. This would impact existing waterways such as the ditch bordering the fields of the proposed route. Not only is there an impact on the drainage system and fields, but a railway would affect air quality in Porter County. Currently, we have to undergo auto emission testing due to the poor air quality from the many highways cutting through Porter County and the steel mills in Lake and Porter County. What is the potential for emissions emanating from the freight trains? The train emissions spewed into the environment would increase air pollution in southern Porter County. This would spread into northern Porter County as well. Ultimately, this would cause respiratory problems in individuals with compromised systems. The proposed route is on low lying muck land which can burn or smolder if ignited by a fire or spark. This can spread to surrounding homes and fields destroying crops not already affected by the route. This would provide difficulties for the owner, as well as the renter of the fields. Rural fire departments are not prepared for fires of this magnatude. The resulting muck fire would impact the air quality resulting in respiratory distress to the people who have illnesses such as COPD and asthma. Contamination of water supply is of concern to anyone who relies on the aquifer under the county. Water in southern Porter County cannot come from Lake Michigan, water must come from groundwater. If a derailment occurs, the water source will be destroyed. Rainfall also would leech out chemicals from the rail beds into water supplies. This increased air pollution and water pollution would destroy the quality of life for residents of Porter County. My concerns are shared by the farm and land owners affected by the proposed rail line. I am strongly opposed to rail development and urge the board to deny the proposed Great Lakes Basin Rail Line. Mrs. Patricia Ailes
Submitted by: Patricia Ailes · Valparaiso, 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.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/FD-35952/comment/EI-23373 · back to the docket sheet