The Alaska Railroad Corporation has applied for a Department of Environmental Conservation permit to use chemical weed control on a 90 mile section of track on the Kenai Pennisula.
According to railroad engineers, the 90 mile area between Seward and Indian is the worst as far as out of control vegetation. The application to DEC was spurred by an April 2009 letter from the Federal Railroad Administration – the FRA– warning of increased fines, train speed restrictions and possible track closure. Since 1997, the ARRC says the FRA has written 947 defects and 74 violations directed at the railroad due to uncontrolled vegetation. This June, FRA issued an additional 171 defects and 47 violations.
The Railroad applied for a permit in 2006, which was denied after much public outcry about the herbicides selected. Residents along the railbelt were concerned about salmon streams, children possibly affected by strong herbicides as well as general public health.
A two year herbicide research study is on-going and the Railroad had planned to re-submit a permit application in 2010 once the study was complete. The FRA warnings and their impact compelled the railroad to move forward sooner.
The DEC permitting process allows for a 60 day public process starting now. Three public hearings have been scheduled. One will be held in Whittier on August 10th, one in Seward on August 11th and one in Anchorage on August 12th. Public comment may be given verbally at the hearings or people can submit written comments by September 15th to DEC.
