U.S. Senator Baldwin and U.S. Representative Kind Seek River and Wetland Protections As BNSF Seeks Track Expansion

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and U.S. Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) sent a letter today requesting that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) require BNSF Railway to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prior to their planned track expansion through the City of La Crosse and along the La Crosse River Marsh.

They write, “We urge you to require an EIS to determine whether water quality, vegetation, wildlife, and navigation of the La Crosse River Marsh and Mississippi River area will be affected by the planned railway expansion.”

“The preservation and protection of the La Crosse River Marsh and the Mississippi River are vital to sustaining a strong economy, a high quality of life for communities along the river, and maintenance of a watershed rich with biodiversity. It is critical that all potential environmental impacts of this project are fully understood before a decision is made,” they conclude.

An online version of the letter can be found here.