Comment EI-33836
Received or sent (printed as 4/1/2025)
I request an Environmental Impact Statement be carefully prepared for the proposed new rail line through Burnet County because the rail line is a major Federal action significantly & negatively affecting the quality of human & wildlife environment. Specifically, the EIS should address the destruction of fenced, private property/farmland/homes/buildings & subsequent displacement of people & wildlife; water contaminants; noise pollution; potential for train derailment & blockage of roads; destruction of wildlife feeding/nesting/birth areas including that of threatened or endangered species including but not limited to the golden-cheeked warbler, black-capped vireo, zone-tailed hawk, TX horned lizard & Houston Toad; destruction of centuries-old heritage oak trees; the risk of structural damage to foundations of homes/buildings near proposed railway; and the tremendous property devaluation. It is vital to note that TX Materials Group is asking to revive a ROW abandoned in the 1950’s to "reconstruct rail" & to add many miles of new track in a new ROW addition. The "reconstruction" is simply construction as the rail is mostly nonexistent. This solely benefits 1 business & profoundly negatively impacts countless private citizens. It is egregious to request & will tear apart private landholdings. We bought our land in Burnet County 28+ years ago for the peace & tranquility & to enjoy native birds/wildlife. Our stewardship of this land means growing plants to feed deer, fox, rabbits & other animals, growing native wildflowers to attract pollinators, protecting massive heritage oaks, all of which are threatened by this request. The lasting negative impact of this proposed new rail close to our home is the destruction of serene countryside, potential blocked rural roads by stopped trains & division of ranches & homesteads. THIS IS NOT NECESSARY OR REASONABLE. We urge the project be rejected & our land preserved. We request all mitigating factors be considered in the EIS.
Submitted by: Dorothy Marley · El Chiquito Rancho Grande · Burnet, TX
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-36815/comment/EI-33836 · back to the docket sheet