20040702comments.pdf

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STATE OF IDAHO
DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
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1118 F Street. Lewiston , Idaho 83501-1930 . [phone] UTILiTIES COr4I";'liSSJON Dirk Kempthorne, Governor
C. Stephen Allred, Director
June 29, 2004
Idaho Public Utilities Commission
O. Box 83720
Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
RE:Comments Docket No. AB-872, Great Northwest Railroad, Inc.
Abandonment Exemption, Clearwater County, Idaho
Dear Sir/Madam:
The Lewiston Regional Office of the Department of Environmental Quality has received a request from
Ball Janik, LLP, Attorneys for Great Northwest Railroad, Inc. (GNR) to review the Environmental Report
associated with the above Docket. The GNR requests that notification of any misleading, incorrect or
missing information be provided to the Section of Environmental Analyses, Surface Transportation
Board, 1925 K Street, N., Washington, DC 20423-0001.
We mentioned two concerns in our original comments dated April 20, 2004 that do not appear to have
been incorporated into the environmental report. Specifically, the report states there are no known
hazardous material waste sites or sites where known hazardous material spills have occurred. We suggest
information be presented in the report that characterizes the hazard risk to water and the environment
resulting from any wood preservation chemicals associated with the development, maintenance and
operation of this rail line. The report also states GNR sees no need for mitigating actions. We suggest
information be presented in the report that characterizes the risk of potential negative effects on water
quality from un-maintained culverts and wood structures.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide further comment on this project. If you would like to discuss
these comments or have any questions please contact me at [phone].
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AOhn Cardwel1
Regional Environmental Program Manager
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cc:Ball Janik LLP, Attorneys, Great Northwest Railroad, Inc.
Kurt Fransen, Idaho Attorney General Office
Kerby M. Cole, DEQ/Lewiston Regional Office
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DARCY JAM ES
Route 2 Box 404
Grangeville, 10 83530
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June 30, 2004
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Idaho Public Utilities Commission
O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0074
Commissioners
Re: Case No. GNW-04-
As a taxpayer and resident of North Central Idaho, I am writing in opposition to GreatNorthwest Railroad's petition to abandon the Jaype branch line in Clearwater County.
I attended the hearing in Orofino on June 28. Several witnesses showed that efforts to revive theeconomy of Clearwater County are in some measure dependent on access to rail shipping from
the Pierce area. They asked for more time to bring planned projects to fruition. Needed newenterprises on the Weippe Prairie will be deprived of access to markets, and thus may not beestablished at all, if there is no railroad. The area served already finds itself in adversecircumstances, and removal of the rail access will only impair the efforts of the residents to
recover. Finally, on the issue of profitability, it seems to me that the three months since Great
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Northwest took over the line are not a long enough period for them to demonstrate any claim.
seems that lack of maintenance and possibly a prohibitive fee structure may have contributed to
recent inactivity on the line.
In the terrain of Clearwater County, rail transportation is far preferable to trucks for heavy
freight. The roads, highways, and bridges between Pierce and transshipping points such as
Lewiston, are not made for such traffic, and there is no easy or inexpensive way to upgrade themto that level. If we abandon the railroad, will we have to build it again in five years?
I urge you to join with the local leadership if our area and present the case against abandonment
in the strongest terms to the Surface Transportation Board.
With thanks
DarCY