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Times -Standard article
Author: Joel Manly
Date: 03-12-2009 - 07:29
Rail authority moves for more public comment on plan
John Driscoll/The Times-Standard
Posted: 03/12/2009 01:16:50 AM PDT
EUREKA -- The North Coast Railroad Authority on Wednesday opted to expand public review of a draft environmental document on the potential effects of opening a 142-mile stretch of rail line between Lombard and Willits.
The draft Environmental Impact Report is a bit slow out the gate, and won't be on the authority Web site until today, four days into a 45-day public comment period. Only one meeting in Petaluma had been set to hear from the public.
Authority directors on Wednesday, however, wrestled with whether to give the public more time to file written comments, and whether to hold another meeting at the north end of the southern part of the line. Authority Chairman Allen Hemphill said extending the comment period another 30 days could delay the start-up of the railroad until fall. He argued that the public has had ample opportunity to understand the authority's proposed project.
”We've been around the barn on this for two years,” Hemphill said.
On the other side of the argument was Director Tom MacDonald, who wanted the comment period extended 60 days.
The report deals with the anticipated safety and noise problems from running three rounds trips per week with trains totaling 15 to 18 cars, and outlines the benefits of reducing truck traffic and providing businesses with less costly transportation for products. The document cost $3 million to produce.
Authority staff told directors that the California Environmental Quality
Act doesn't require that any public meetings are held, and argued that holding more than the one scheduled meeting would cost more money than the authority could afford -- about $1,500 per meeting.
But Director David Colfax said that the public has a perception that the authority tries to limit public participation, and suggested a second meeting be held to show that's not the case.
In the end, the board decided to hold a second meeting at a time to be announced in Willits, and to extend the public comment period for the environmental report to May 1.
$1500 per meeting is more than they can afford? While I think that the meetings are a waste of time and money, I would hope that $1500 won't break them.
John Driscoll/The Times-Standard
Posted: 03/12/2009 01:16:50 AM PDT
EUREKA -- The North Coast Railroad Authority on Wednesday opted to expand public review of a draft environmental document on the potential effects of opening a 142-mile stretch of rail line between Lombard and Willits.
The draft Environmental Impact Report is a bit slow out the gate, and won't be on the authority Web site until today, four days into a 45-day public comment period. Only one meeting in Petaluma had been set to hear from the public.
Authority directors on Wednesday, however, wrestled with whether to give the public more time to file written comments, and whether to hold another meeting at the north end of the southern part of the line. Authority Chairman Allen Hemphill said extending the comment period another 30 days could delay the start-up of the railroad until fall. He argued that the public has had ample opportunity to understand the authority's proposed project.
”We've been around the barn on this for two years,” Hemphill said.
On the other side of the argument was Director Tom MacDonald, who wanted the comment period extended 60 days.
The report deals with the anticipated safety and noise problems from running three rounds trips per week with trains totaling 15 to 18 cars, and outlines the benefits of reducing truck traffic and providing businesses with less costly transportation for products. The document cost $3 million to produce.
Authority staff told directors that the California Environmental Quality
Act doesn't require that any public meetings are held, and argued that holding more than the one scheduled meeting would cost more money than the authority could afford -- about $1,500 per meeting.
But Director David Colfax said that the public has a perception that the authority tries to limit public participation, and suggested a second meeting be held to show that's not the case.
In the end, the board decided to hold a second meeting at a time to be announced in Willits, and to extend the public comment period for the environmental report to May 1.
$1500 per meeting is more than they can afford? While I think that the meetings are a waste of time and money, I would hope that $1500 won't break them.
