Comment EI-23468
Received or sent (printed as 6/6/2016)
Resolution submitted by Flora Community Grange Whereas: Great Lake Basin LLC is trying to secure approval to build the largest rail line proposed in 125 years, but has never operated a rail system or realized the economic impact it would have on the communities through which it intends to pass through, and Whereas: The value of farmland ranks very high since once it is gone it can never be replaced. Farmers pay property taxes on their land to the county governments which go toward schools, roads, conservation districts and bridges. When a farm is cut up, the value is lost consequently taxes would decline and the economics of the county would be pinched. The loss of farmland with the severing of tile lines, splitting the farmland with no access to the acreage on the other side of the tracks, compaction of the soil through construction of the rail system, and acknowledgment of the economic impact as a result of unproductive land due to new wet spots will cause farmers addition hours on the roads traveling to get to their fields resulting in more stress and no desire to upgrade or even maintain their land at this time, and Whereas: The farming community has a great impact on the economics of a community for when the farming is good, purchases are made in the line of equipment, including vehicles, which makes the manufacturing industry busy and productive and will feed back to the citizens who then have more money to spend and enjoy life to the fullest, and Whereas: Boone County has a large aquafer beneath the surface which provides clean water. In the event of a derailment that aquafer would be ruined and could never be replaced, and Whereas: Emergency personnel do not reside in close proximity to this area thus the response time would be lengthen in the event of a railroad derailment or catastrophe, and Whereas: The GLB is improperly seeking approval of rail and multi-use utility corridor from the STB who has no authorization to allow construction of a utility corridor for possible use in the future by utilities, and Whereas: The Illinois Transportation Department has just rebuilt many of the overpasses along interstate 90 coming west out of Chicago. Considering the number of crossings needed for this railroad, we do not feel it to be a positive improvement to the countryside and the community. Therefore; The Flora Grange members wish to go on record of opposing the granting of this project with exemptions of any kind and to conduct a full review of the GLB project. Secretary, Laurel Ratcliffe
Submitted by: Laurel · Flora Grange · Belvidere, 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-23468 · back to the docket sheet