Comment EI-24328
Received or sent (printed as 7/6/2016)
Dear Mr. Navecky, I am writing concerning the proposal of the Great Lakes Basin Rail Line which is now under review of the Transportation Surface Board, Docket Number FD 35952. As I have written previously I am concerned with the environmental and economical impact that this rail line would have on those whose land lies in the path of this rail line. I own a farm that will be divided by the GLBRR should it be built in southern Boone County, Illinois. Over and over Mr. Frank Patton, partner in GLBRR, has stated he will be compensating land taken for his project at the sum of $20,000 per acre. He has also stated repeatedly that he will be using the authority of eminent domain to obtain the acreage needed for this rail line. Laura Harmon, Illinois Farm Bureau Senior Counsel, explains the compensation of eminent domain as follows, It is the general legal rule that officials are forbidden to pay above fair market value for purchases. Fair market value means value set by the market. Thus negotiated sales at above fair market value are legally problematic." As you are likely aware the fair market value along this route for farmland is far less than $20,000 per acre. Fair market value is not viable compensation for all the many added expenses farmers will incur due to water flow change, broken tile, loss of CRP acreage, movement of highly fertile soils, constant risk of derailment and time wasted in transporting equipment around rail line during construction and once completed. Mr. Patton's promise of compensation is a hollow statement not based in fact. This is one sole example of Great Lake Basin Rail exaggerating the truth. How can State Governments, County officials, landowners or the Surface Transportation Board trust GLBRR's other statements concerning care of our environment, noise abatement, public need for more rail line, and most importantly, safety? I urge the Surface Transportation Board to deny this proposal outright. The Great Lakes Basin Rail should be given no shortcuts but should be forced to back up the sum of their plans and statements with detailed data showing absolute due diligence. The Surface Transportation Board and the thousands of citizens across three states and their descendants who would be negatively effected by this rail project deserve nothing less. Sincerely, Lori Pepper Flora Township, Boone County, IL"
Submitted by: Lori Pepper
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-24328 · back to the docket sheet