The community hearing last week regarding the proposed second rail being built through 7.2 acres of the Marsh and Wetlands was met with an overwhelming response for an EIS, Environmental Impact Study, especially after presentors shared plans including new bridges, 
fire fighter emergency response training and safety issues along with the DNR's environmental analysis of impact on the wetland and the preservation and moving of endangered species.
Although reassurances were given regarding train length, speed, decreasing train bottlenecking of stopping and starting, discrepancies were noted by the public of increasing traffic and train lengths.
Among members of a myriad of groups including Audobon Society, Sierra Club, CARS (Citizens Acting for Rail Safety), River Study University professors and Students for Sustainability, private citizens included homeowners, naturalists, birders, cyclists, hikers, environmentalists and a geologist stating their concerns.
The list not in any particular order included but not limited to:
1. Noise.
2. Vibration.
3. Pollution.
4. Time is of the Essence to recognize issues to protect area.
5. Increased danger and accident risk.
6. Bridge conditions, old and in need of repair.
7. Lack of state bridge structural engineer inspectors.
8. Need to be pro-active vs reactive.
9. Increase of rail usage.
10. Industrial growth threat to marsh.
11. Tourism affected.
12. Habitat destruction.
13. Wildlife endangered.
14. Elimination of necessary flood plain acreage.
15. Lack of protection for land, water, people and ecology.
16. Mitigation-wetland credit will not necessarily be covered in La Crosse.
17. Half of marsh has already been destroyed.
18. DNR's responsibility to minimize the impact.
19. Loss of marsh's use as classroom.
20. Loss of recreational use for hunting, fishing, trapping, cycling, bird watching and hiking...
21. Impact on both land and river.
22. Not just local but cumulative.
23. Worries about animal populations, you can move a nest but can not replace food sources.
24. Limited response training can't be effective in catastrophic spill regardless of manpower or supplies.
25. DNR's mission statement is to act in the public interest.
26. BNSF is underinsured for worst case scenario spill.
27. Increase volume of hazardous materials in unsafe cars.
28. Chemicals dispersed into waterways.
29. Inequality of representation for citizen groups's material in hearing.
30. Use of herbicides for clearing for rail and access road.
31. Possible eagle nesting disturbed.
32. Endangered species affecting Blanding Turtle and Black Tern.
33. Location of stopped trains, access blocking emergency exits.
34. Climate change and its effect.
35. Water rights.
36. Contamination.
37. Cumulative effects and consequences.
38. BNSF decrease of personnel/ train vs increase/ maintaining 2.
39. BNSF's personnel work schedules.
40. Devaluation of tax base.
41. Preference of cement cross ties.
42. Lack of clean up of small spills and their accumulation in soil
43. Human Population safety.
44. Increased inaccessibility to use trail for commuting to work due to flooding.
45. Difficulty accessing DNR's website to make comments
46. Attendees's hearing form misleading as to what was vote
47. New construction and traffic will affect diversity of species.
48. Hearing should have taken place earlier than a week before deadline of concern submissions.
49. Once destroyed an ecosystem can never return to what it once was.
Many individual citizen research hours were obvious in prepared statements ( albeit originally informed of 5-minute presentation length, only 3 minutes allowed but could complete statements at the end of the hearing). Letters of opposition and concern were also submitted to the DNR by both local and state politicians calling for an environmental impact study, EIS. For me, the most impressive comments made during the 3 hour hearing were by young people, the inheritors of this rail expansion decision. University students in environmental studies, land management, outdoor and aquatic sciences, members of Students for Sustainability emphasized the importance of the marsh in students's lives and studies. 6,000 primary, secondary and higher education students use the marsh as an outdoor classroom annually. One of the speakers won an impressive national contest for spotting 260 species in the marsh. How many species will be left if this rail expansion is allowed?
BTW have you noticed the price of gas recently? Under $2/gallon in our area even less elsewhere. How is this possible? There is a glutton of oil on the market. BNSF's greed to move more cargo for foreign needs is not in the best interest of the land nor the people. DNR's decision affects more than just our state as this issue transverses and impacts our entire country.
May Wisconsin and other states's DNR protect unique ecosystems, performing environmental impact studies and send a message to the BNSF railroad that we won't be "railroaded" and will deny the permits.
Make your voices heard. Please contact the DNR link here to say NO to these permits: LINK TO SUBMIT CONCERNS due by the 17th of this month.
Pass the message quickly as in all real estate TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
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