On behalf of all of our petitioners, the following legal letter was sent to each of those named:
CITIZENS AGAINST DOUBLE TRACK
Steering Committee formed by
Northridge South Neighborhood Council
(Steering Committee representing over 1,000 residents)
September 24, 2015
Metrolink Board
SCRRA Board of Directors
P.O. Box 531776
Los Angeles, CA 90053
Federal Railroad Administration
801 I Street, Suite 466
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Need to Prepare EIR/EIS for CP Raymer to CP Bernson Double Track Project
Metro Board and Federal Railroad Administration,
We are requesting that technical studies in support of environmental review and environmental review in the form of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) per the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) per the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) be prepared for the proposed CP Raymer to CP Bernson Double Track project.
We feel it’s important that the environmental, socioeconomic, and environmental justice impacts of the proposed project be assessed and disclosed to us, the concerned community, and as such there is a fair argument that an EIR/EIS should be prepared for this project. Specifically, we are concerned about adverse impacts to residential properties and persons due to physical construction of a second track close to residents, the increased level and type of operational rail service, and the closer proximity of rail infrastructure and operations to such residential land uses.
Specifically, detailed project-related air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, vibration, geotechnical, hazards/hazardous materials/safety, and traffic studies covering both construction- and operational-related impacts should be prepared in support of the EIR/EIS.
Given the physical and operational environmental implications of the project and the fact that safety is the primary value, [1] Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA or Metro), the CEQA Lead Agency, and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the NEPA lead agency, are responsible for preparing the aforementioned environmental documents and for allowing the public the opportunity to review and comment on the impacts and mitigation measures of the project and alternatives to the project. Finally, we hope that Metro and FRA will seriously consider feasible and safer alternatives within the EIR/EIS.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Rissi Larry Potell
Co-Chair Co-Chair
cc: City of Los Angeles Planning Department
Metrolink Board
Congressman Brad Sherman
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl
Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander
California Public Utilities Commission
Federal Transit Administration
Governor Jerry Brown
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
State Senator Bob Hertzberg
State Assembly Matt Dababneh
We believe Metro should follow its own stated mission values, especially related to safety.