News Update 9/6/07
Railways' Toxic Emissions Tied to Higher Cancer Risk
NPR News radio and KQED correspondent Sarah Varney reports on a recent California EPA warning on the increased cancer risk near railyards in the City of Commerce:
"They found that the air quality is so bad that the families living closest to the railyards is 180 times higher than what is considred acceptable. And the soot that spreads across for miles increases the likelihood of cancer for 1.2 million people."
News Update 6/20/07As of Tuesday afternoon Bill HB2020 passed both the House (43-12) and Senate (26-0). This is a positive development in the fight to save Picacho Peak as the bill will give the Corporation Commission more control over Union Pacific's plans to expand their rail yard operations. Governor Napolitano still needs to sign the bill into law. Feel free to send her an email to show your support!
News Update 6/19/07On Monday, the Arizona Daily Star printed an interesting article about HB 2020 and the support in the Legislature.
Rail yard splits local lawmakers
Supporters, foes aren't whom you might expect (Arizona Daily Star)
"It's big business versus the little guy. And there are environmental concerns, because the rail yard would be located near the Central Arizona Project canal that supplies water to Southern Arizona. Picacho Peak is about 35 miles northwest of Tucson, near Interstate 10."
Email Your Representatives!
The Arizona Legislature is about to vote on HB 2020 (click to view Bill Summary) which would require a railroad to study the impacts its proposed rail facilities would have on the environment and report this information in public hearings in front of the Arizona Corporation Commission.
We need your help to convince some key legislators that they need to vote in favor of this bill in order to help expose the impacts the proposed rail switching yard at Picacho Peak will have on the adjacent State Park, the water resources, the neighboring landowners and businesses, as well as the clear visual and air quality impact this rail facility will have immediately adjacent to one of Arizona’s most popular State Parks.
Please click on the e-mail links below and let these legislators know that you care about the future of the land surrounding Picacho Peak.
Representatives Linda Lopez, David Bradley, Olivia Cajero Bedford, Lena S. Saradnik, Pete Rios, Barbara McGuire, Kyrsten Sinema, Jennifer Burns, Lucy Mason, Pete Hershberger, Carolyn Allen. And Governor Napolitano.
Updated Videos (press play button to view)
Pollution Map and 3d Model of Proposed Site Plan |
04/13/2007 Update! A Role in Ruling the Rails
Excerpt:
"Two Union Pacific projects are chugging into Arizona and a third is in the station, building steam.
The railroad giant is double-tracking its east-west route across the state, providing far more capacity than the current single track.
It wants to build an enormous switching yard on a proposed site near Picacho Peak. And it's preparing to bid on a new rail line
that would run through Yuma.
The scope of the projects: mammoth.
The role of state and local communities in how they proceed: far too tiny."
Picacho Peak State Park and the surrounding areas are in danger. On November 29, 2006, the Pinal County supervisors unanimously voted to revise the general plan, allowing industrial use at the base of Picacho Peak. They gave Union Pacific a green light, encouraging them to purchase just less than 1500 acres of land at the base of the peak to build a mega railroad hump/switching yard. This yard will cover an area that is over six miles long and three miles deep, along the I-10 corridor.
A group of concerned citizens and experts voiced dozens of reasons to stop the rezoning, ranging from the adverse affect to the natural environment to a moderate chemical spill that would shut down I-10 for a minimum of 12 hours. The Pinal County supervisors did not waiver, dismissing the environment and public safety in favor of the slanted report, submitted by Union Pacific, showing economic growth.
This report was not site specific; the rail yard does not have to be built at the base of Picacho Peak for Pinal County to benefit from any potential economic growth. The Picacho Peak site was chosen because of the decrease cost to Union Pacific. In 2006, Union Pacific set an all-time quarterly record, growing 15 percent to $4.0 billion in operating revenue. They can afford to build at another location.
This yard will adversely affect the natural environment and future economic development of Picacho Peak State park area. We need your help to fight this “David and Goliath” battle -- with your support we can convince Union Pacific and the State of Arizona to choose an alternative site that does not destroy our coveted natural resource for generations to come. Click here to send a letter and to post your thoughts.
The decision now lies with State Land and the Governor. Please help preserve the peak for our future generations. Get involved now.
What Will Happen to the Area?
If the yard is built, diesel engines will be left idling 24 hours a day, seven days a week, producing diesel smells and pollutants. For miles and miles, diesel residue will form on all surrounding plant life, destroying the vegetation and animals that depend on the plant life to live. Animals that currently rely on East West trails will be unable to navigate the sea of railcars.
Railcars will bang into each other at all hours of the day and night. The sound can be heard miles away.
The current farm land is designated a Ground Water Savings Facility. The farm is irrigated using Colorado River water from the Central Arizona Project canal. The water is stored in the ground below the farm which slowly migrates and replenishes the aquifer, storing water for the future. How valuable will this water supply be when contaminated by diesel and spills from railroad cars carrying highly toxic material?
A former Union Pacific employee of 35-years tells a story of an explosion that occurred when several cargo cars exploded, shattering windows in homes 4 miles away from the yard. Would you like to own a home, raise your family within this destructive zone?
A hazardous material expert demonstrated a moderate chemical reaction, which would cause a 10-mile evacuation and closing the I-10 corridor for over 12 hours.
Thousands of visitors will no longer see, hear, and enjoy the complete natural landscape that the park offers. This area was designated “Developmental Sensitive” by the State of Arizona so a project just like this would not happen. Or so they thought...
Instead, the park will be remembered as an unfortunate place for a giant railroad switching yard.
What Does Union Pacific Say?
Union Pacific wants this location for several reasons. The main reasons are reduced cost and location. The land has already been leveled by the farming family currently holding the land lease which reduces their land preparation expenses. There are no washes transversing through the land, making their permit process easier which reduces their expenses.
Union Pacific is currently negotiating with the Arizona State Land Department to purchase 1463 acres, at a good price. Because of Union Pacific union restrictions and the need to re-assign 100-200 Tucson employees, Union Pacific claims it is the only location that will work. What are your thoughts?
How Can You Get Involved?
With just a few minutes of your time, you can help SAVE THE PEAK. Please follow the links below to get started.
- Send an e-mail, letter or place a call to a local, regional, and/or state official by clicking here.
- Post your comments on this website by clicking here.
- Send this website address to your friends and get them involved by clicking here.
See how the region may look according to the Union Pacific proposal (Click to enlarge):
