Submission Number: UBR-DEIS-00639 

Received: 2/12/2021 12:05:59 PM
Commenter: Philip Richardson
Organization: 
State: Utah

Agency: STB
Initiative: Uinta Basin Railway EIS
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
I am greatly opposed to the construction of this railway. As a property owner along the corridor, I have great concerns about the water quality and disturbance. The EIS identifies that it there is potential to affect the water quality both on the surface and underground. We depend on both of these sources for our water. The surface and underground construction can and will have adverse effects on the way the waters flow. The railway is also proposed to pass through areas of forest and grasslands that are already stressed by the limited amounts of moisture. This potential disturbance will have further effect on the landscape not only by altering the flows but increasing the risk of fire and damages caused by these fires. storm events occurring in burn scar areas have proven to have serious impacts on the landscape. we have seen valleys carved out of mountains and large boulders moved great distances. All of these will be impacted greatly by the construction of this railway. There is already a highway built to transfer materials out of the Basin. Spend money to improve the highway. The Presidential administration has already limited or restricted new production on federal grounds, and we know the wells in place will not flow forever. With government pushes to limit greenhouse gasses by eliminating gas and diesel vehicles in the next 20 years, does it really make sense to destroy more of the beautiful landscape and install this railway for the short time it may be considered beneficial? Does it make sense to alter and pollute more of our waterways? From the beginning, this project has been a land-grab scheme designed and pushed by a few who stand to benefit from it for a short time while the general public will bear the burden and pay for the disastrous consequences for many years to come.