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Re: NCJ reports eviromental groups, and county of marin joining in lawsuit against NCRA
Author: Mitsy
Date: 11-29-2007 - 12:07
The issue the NWP now faces is getting up and running before the public
residing in the population centers become aware of what they are planning
on doing.
First, does anyone believe a Willits south freight service is viable
in the long run? Please, chime in. Most on this forum doesn't
think it's viable. And the studies that have been done on the line
indicate that it won't be viable. But maybe someone representing
NWP Co. would like to add their thoughts.
Second, a number of responses indicate that the issue of the interconnections
between the mining operation and the NCRA is no big deal. MMRailfan
said, "so what".
First, it should be apparent to all that the NCRA and
its backers want to have it both ways. On one hand, they have their
plan to mine Island Mtn., haul the ore mostly at night through Sonoma
and northern Marin county, subsidized with state money so that the investors
can make lots of dollars. (I agree with comments that the investors wouldn't
be in the game without the state money paying for the track.)
My contention is simple: This kind of public subsidy is something the public -- if it understands the consequences -- is not going to support and the NWP/NCRA knows it.
The Bay Area is way too liberal to want to line the pockets
of Bosco, Berg, Williams, Evergreen Natural Resources et al. Just look at the reaction Berg got
when it became public that he got $20 million earmarked in federal legislation
for the Port Sonoma ferry.
At the same time the NCRA has its plan, NCRA defenders are defending
an EIR that only looks at trains operating south of Willits, claiming any
activity north of Willits is "speculative." Kind of sounds suspicious to me
and a growing number of people are wondering whether the NCRA is being honest
with the public.
And the NCRA has an interest in the public not understanding the impacts.
For sure they don't want the opposition of people living near the track who will be
awakened every night by train horns. And awakened they will be unless
the taxpayers also pay for quiet zones because NWP Co. President John
Williams said that he wasn't going to pay for them. And for sure, they don't
want national environmental organizations fighting their plans to mine
Island Mtn.
To the lawyer/"Little Lake Listener"...the entire NWP Co. plan was to get this
thing up and running before anyone realized what was happening. He's right
about federal law. Once the trains get going, there is little legally one
can do stop them.
Well, the tables have turned a bit. Marin has caught on to the plan. Environmental
organizations from outside the area are getting briefed on the issue.
It's only a matter of time before Sonoma residents impacted by the trains waking them up
at night will start to wonder. This will be followed by local politicians who will
no longer be able to hold the line. I doubt even Bosco can hold the Democratic
support in the legislature together for too much longer. They've already gotten
grief from Jared Huffman and I think they know the gig is up. Only Republicans
have fought the NCRA funding bills up to now. Once that changes all bets are off.
What the legislature created, the legislature can destroy. Shed light on
the plan and the Democratic constituencies that support environmental
preservation will be asking their reps in Sacramento some pretty hard questions.
That's why the interlocking relationships matter, because the people who
vote for democrats typically don't like their tax dollars going to subsidize
a mining operation along a Wild and Scenic river. And because politicians want
to get re-elected by a public that is getting more environmentally oriented
by the minute. And no matter what the Lake Listener claims about "mining operations,"
there isn't much of an audience in the Democratic party that is going to buy it,
even if what he says is true.
As to whether the NCRA broke the law in this case, my guess is that it will
be some time before there is a definitive answer. Novato's writ is posted to
its website. Maybe the NCRA should post its response to interested readers
can see what it's claiming in response.
residing in the population centers become aware of what they are planning
on doing.
First, does anyone believe a Willits south freight service is viable
in the long run? Please, chime in. Most on this forum doesn't
think it's viable. And the studies that have been done on the line
indicate that it won't be viable. But maybe someone representing
NWP Co. would like to add their thoughts.
Second, a number of responses indicate that the issue of the interconnections
between the mining operation and the NCRA is no big deal. MMRailfan
said, "so what".
First, it should be apparent to all that the NCRA and
its backers want to have it both ways. On one hand, they have their
plan to mine Island Mtn., haul the ore mostly at night through Sonoma
and northern Marin county, subsidized with state money so that the investors
can make lots of dollars. (I agree with comments that the investors wouldn't
be in the game without the state money paying for the track.)
My contention is simple: This kind of public subsidy is something the public -- if it understands the consequences -- is not going to support and the NWP/NCRA knows it.
The Bay Area is way too liberal to want to line the pockets
of Bosco, Berg, Williams, Evergreen Natural Resources et al. Just look at the reaction Berg got
when it became public that he got $20 million earmarked in federal legislation
for the Port Sonoma ferry.
At the same time the NCRA has its plan, NCRA defenders are defending
an EIR that only looks at trains operating south of Willits, claiming any
activity north of Willits is "speculative." Kind of sounds suspicious to me
and a growing number of people are wondering whether the NCRA is being honest
with the public.
And the NCRA has an interest in the public not understanding the impacts.
For sure they don't want the opposition of people living near the track who will be
awakened every night by train horns. And awakened they will be unless
the taxpayers also pay for quiet zones because NWP Co. President John
Williams said that he wasn't going to pay for them. And for sure, they don't
want national environmental organizations fighting their plans to mine
Island Mtn.
To the lawyer/"Little Lake Listener"...the entire NWP Co. plan was to get this
thing up and running before anyone realized what was happening. He's right
about federal law. Once the trains get going, there is little legally one
can do stop them.
Well, the tables have turned a bit. Marin has caught on to the plan. Environmental
organizations from outside the area are getting briefed on the issue.
It's only a matter of time before Sonoma residents impacted by the trains waking them up
at night will start to wonder. This will be followed by local politicians who will
no longer be able to hold the line. I doubt even Bosco can hold the Democratic
support in the legislature together for too much longer. They've already gotten
grief from Jared Huffman and I think they know the gig is up. Only Republicans
have fought the NCRA funding bills up to now. Once that changes all bets are off.
What the legislature created, the legislature can destroy. Shed light on
the plan and the Democratic constituencies that support environmental
preservation will be asking their reps in Sacramento some pretty hard questions.
That's why the interlocking relationships matter, because the people who
vote for democrats typically don't like their tax dollars going to subsidize
a mining operation along a Wild and Scenic river. And because politicians want
to get re-elected by a public that is getting more environmentally oriented
by the minute. And no matter what the Lake Listener claims about "mining operations,"
there isn't much of an audience in the Democratic party that is going to buy it,
even if what he says is true.
As to whether the NCRA broke the law in this case, my guess is that it will
be some time before there is a definitive answer. Novato's writ is posted to
its website. Maybe the NCRA should post its response to interested readers
can see what it's claiming in response.
