[Winona Online Democracy] ACT NOW TO DEFEND WINONA AGAINST COAL TRAIN EXPANSION Recently there has been some discussion here about Winona's quality of life. In fact, Winonans are confronted with a powerful force which will likely compromise our quality of life unless we act. The DM & E Railroad has applied to the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) for approval to ship coal eastward from Wyoming to Winona and beyond. This could more than double the number of trains passing through Winona each day and dramatically impact noise levels, vibration, traffic congestion, and safety in our community. Other cities along the DM & E route, including Mankato and Rochester, have recognized the tremendous dangers of these coal trains and have already taken strong actions to protect themselves. Winona has delayed acting and must submit recommendations for the STB's final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) by MARCH 6 addressing specific problems coal trains will create in our area and propose mitigations for these problems. The STB will use the final Environmental Impact Statement as it makes its final decision regarding licensing the DM & E Expansion. If the expansion is approved, the STB will legally require the DM & E to mitigate problems included in the final EIS. Unless the city of Winona and local citizens submit detailed demands to the STB, concerning fencing, overpasses, sound barriers, landscaping, emergency response systems and so forth, Winona is likely to suffer dramatically and local tax payers will shoulder the resulting costs. Recently, several of us have formed Citizens Concerned About Coal Trains to encourage a strong response to the STB. We urge you to do the following: 1. COME to the DM & E COAL TRAIN COMMUNITY MEETING this Thursday, February 15, 7:30 pm, Senior Friendship Center - Main Room, 251 Main Street. Speakers include Mankato mayor Jeff Kagermeier, and Sol Simon and Michael Bowler of Citizens Concerned about Coal Trains. You will show Winona leaders your concern and learn: a) How D M & E expansion will affect Winona traffic, noise levels, emergency vehicles, child and pedestrian safety, train , and vibration, & property values; b) How Mankato citizens & the city of Mankato are protecting their city; and c) How you can express your concerns to local officials & the national Surface Transportation Board. 2. PHONE the MAYOR and TWO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. We need many citizens to ask city leaders to submit detailed recommendations to the STB addressing the problems coal trains will create in our area. If they don't hear from concerned citizens, they are likely to be more influenced by the DM & E's aggressive publicity campaign. Their phone numbers are: Mayor Jerry Miller at 452-2067 or 452-5996, 1st Ward - Al Thurley 454-3993, 2nd Ward - Gerry Krage 452-4404, 3rd Ward - Chris Arnold 452-7518, 4th Ward - George Borzyskowski 454-4463, At-large - Tim Breza 454-4881, At-large - Dieter Mielimonka 454-2155. The following recent newspaper articles provide some background: http://www.winonadailynews.com/rednews/2001/02/09/build/news/1DME.php3 http://www.winonadailynews.com/opinion/opiguest.php3 http://leenews.lee.net/cgi-bin/news2000/highlight.cgi?h=2002&d=2001/02/08&s=news&f=mankatorail.php3&k=Mankato%20 For more Information phone Citizens Concerns about Coal Trains, 453-9628. Get informed, act now, or regret it later. Greg Gaut ---------------- This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project. Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe. Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name. Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list. Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
