Comment EI-23519
Received or sent (printed as 6/7/2016)
In regards to the enviormental impact the GLB railroad would have on the Kankakee County area, I list the following concerns: The farmland which this proposal would affect is documented as some of most productive farmland in the country. The stated claim of acerage required is in no means corrct as it does not take into account farmland that would be destroyed during the railroads construction. Soil compaction to fields to gain access in order to build such a project. The amount of farm ground lost due to the construction of overpasses and grade crossings. The farmland that would be rendered un-tillable due to lost access or would be economically un-feesable to farm. Our resource is the land and the farmers who work it, and in case you are unaware please check the current U.S. population growth figures and hopefully you will realize the resource you are bound to protect is the land. It has been estimated that the loss of revenue to Kankakee County Agriculture would be around $68,000,000 per year. Do you honestly think the jobs for one 278 mile privately owned railroad would offset this loss? I think not. It has been brought to my attention that this railway could haul oil and hazardous materials from the oil shale fields. If this is true, the risk of a spill would pose huge risks to not only the land but the Kankakee river. The propossed route would not only cross the river near the Warner Bridge road but would also cross several creeks and tributaries which also drain into the river. The risk of a hazardous chemical spill would endanger the approximate 80,000 people who recieve thier drinking water from the river. It would also affect the areas economic income from the river in the form of fishing and recreational use. In conclusion: When all of the known facts and risks associated with this proposal are taken into account, it is clear to see that its construction will surley do much more harm than good to the economy and valuable resources which this area provides.
Submitted by: Darren Augustson · Grant Park, 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-23519 · back to the docket sheet