E-Pledge-O-Meter (8:55 PM - 4/6/04) ------------------------------------------- |XXXXXXXXX-|----------|----------|----------| -------------------------------------------
What is unnatural is a road being built through a neighborhood when it's not needed, has other reasonable and prudent alternatives that can accomplish the same goals, and has been shown in court to have violated state and federal environmental law. In 1983-1984, the federal government had given up on the project, and was about to pull the funding when the State's determination to build the road made the State realize it either had to make some concessions or forego construction. Eventually, the federal court approved an Environmental Impact Statement that contained mitigation measures that included the 45 mph speed limit, the parkway design, a four- lane limitation, the truck restriction, the preservation of the JJHill House and several other historic buildings. The State explicitly agreed to those measures, the court approved that settlement, and included it in its orders. If the State decided to raise the speed limit, demolish that church at the bottom of the hill, or add more lanes it would be violating NEPA, a court order, and its own voluntary settlement agreement. More importantly, it would be inviting years of litigation on each and every environmentally sensitive project in the state, because no environmental stakeholder (including project proponents) would ever be able to trust that the mitigation measures wouldn't be reneged upon later on. There may be a sacred cow here, but it's because the State made it so by insisting on building it at any cost. And remember, opening this can of worms works both ways. A central part of the argument to build the road was the State's position that there were no feasible and prudent alternatives for zooming cars between the airport and downtown St. Paul because neither Shepard Road or the Lafayette Freeway could ever be expanded to four lanes. Time has shown that reasoning to have been false, so a strong case can be made that 35E needs to be downgraded. A good long look at air quality in the West 7th area will most certainly show that the cumulative effects of a few major pollution sites ought to be considered. And yes, the roll call vote from yesterday's attempted amendment shows that the Dakota County legislators who simply cannot lose 51 seconds on 35E also voted to continue subsidizing the Gopher State Ethanol plant: Wilkin, Gerlach, Wardlow and Holberg. Diane Gerth I really live in the West End _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
