SCMagLev - Take Action Today - 5 Simple Steps

1. STRENGTHEN THE MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT:

This is an important step needed in our fight against the SCMagLev. We need this ACT strong to create a deterrent.

(1) CLICK HERE: https://act.audubon.org/a/reinstate-mbta2021?ms=policy-adv-email-ea-x-advocacy_20210518_(dc)_202105xx-alert-mbta-rollback-comments&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=advocacy_20210518_(dc)_202105xx-alert-mbta-rollback-comments&emci=0974ea56-55b3-eb11-a7ad-0050f271b5d8&emdi=b87ae5ec-0cb8-eb11-a7ad-501ac57ba3ed&ceid=1315278&contactdata=nELYdqWSCoGdFif%2butEfAQagkJ6AmMh%2b3kr8OerDOfQDkXwhqtgM8x2RG0c%2b9Tb8yGMahr3E8yNRDLENG2t6c1HHOQVUjdo%2fkbT0F%2b3UCF6VAMTLEFapLtWTkdZtxFkwjHCc82uDXezXY9OvgUXMvmxZWHhJx1JFj4cd5ODMXw9cjjnCDyhSoojG29iVleOdOTaksEemm3QW9gzA8XbF4if5zuD3DOcSQTRcNxII%2fxkquo3aGLLVEVgeUOFMo6RP

(2) Fill out the form.

(3) Click on the “Next” Button.

(4) Click the “Send all messages” Button.

2. SIGN COMMENTS LETTER FROM CLEAN WATER ACTION:

Clean Water Action has put out a sign on letter- a very good one. It covers good issues and is easy to send in. Use the link below and fill in the form and submit.

(1) CLICK HERE: https://cleanwater.salsalabs.org/mdmaglevstopthistrain/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=4e35bf6b-b1a6-4b34-9b50-eef63d50c5e8

(2) Fill out the form.

(3) Click on the “Take Action” button.

3. SEND A LETTER TO CONGRESS:

No federal funding for Maglev! Sponsored by the Coalition for Smart Growth

(1) CLICK HERE: https://secure.everyaction.com/aZCOOBA0_UKXQh0l1Uc4kQ2?emci=1b35ee15-51b7-eb11-a7ad-0050f271b5d8&emdi=85956037-a4b8-eb11-a7ad-501ac57ba3ed&ceid=120152

(2) Fill out the form.

(3) Click on the “Next” button.

4. SIGN ON TO THE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION SIGN ON LETTER TO CHOOSE THE NO BUILD OPTION:

(1) CLICK HERE: https://p2a.co/ghl8giy

(2) Fill out the form.

(3) Click on the “Send Comment” button.

5. SIGN ON TO THE MARYLAND COALITION for RESPONSIBLE TRANSIT PETITION:

Please sign this Stop the SCMagLev petition and distribute to your networks! This step is REALLY IMPORTANT – AND WILL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE!

(1) CLICK HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1FMbnRrMRDb1N1dH41da6l-NwRxYpIGcPuLqp5qZzV26Tvw/viewform

(2) Fill out the form.

(3) Click on the “Submit” button.

Greenbelt News Review - Council Reviews Law Firm’s Analysis on Maglev DEIS

Original Article by: Cathie Meetre

Edited by: Dan Woomer

At the Greenbelt City Council meeting on May 10, Councilmember Leta Mach moved and council adopted a motion to authorize City Manager Nicole Ard to draft a letter that presents comments on the maglev Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) from the environmental law firm of Jill Grant and Associates.

Grant presented a summary of her group’s work to date, noting they were close to finished. She said that the comments were currently 200 pages. She summarized by saying that the city’s comments will address the enormous cost and inadequate benefit of the project, the extensive environmental effects and the lack of concern for environmental justice. She also noted the project’s failure to observe existing laws or to provide adequate information and analysis on the impact on the environment and the communities affected.

She provided a number of specific instances. Under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, for example, the project has consistently failed to provide all the requested information, while data that they did provide was inadequately analyzed. The project, according to Grant, has also failed to comply with historic preservation requirements and Department of Transportation regulations, among other regulatory constraints. As Grant succinctly put it, “So much disruption for so little benefit.”

Misleading Analyses

Grant noted specific instances where data are not just lacking but actively misleading, citing as an example a cost-benefit analysis that depends on ridership and travel time statistics to justify the cost. She also notes that although the DEIS is required to say how damage to environmentally sensitive areas will be mitigated, no such strategies are described. The comments also include DEIS postponement of geophysical and geotechnical analysis, though analysis of soil and the subsurface strata are a significant factor in design (especially of tunnels and bridges) from the very earliest stages. She pondered how alignments could have been chosen without considering such factors.

Strategy

Part of carrying the day is strategic planning to capitalize on any potential advantages and to be ready to respond to setbacks. Grant’s strategy incorporates a series of fallbacks. They want to win in the first round with a strongly-supported recommendation to pursue the no-build option. If, however, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) decides to go ahead, Grant’s first fallback recommends a new DEIS be required since the current one is so flawed. Her second level of fallback is that requested information must be delivered and that the comment period should be extended to accommodate that – at least buying time.

Lining up the Ducks

Grant pointed out that the comments are so detailed for a number of reasons. One is that they make the point that, “The city is really serious about the project and not just making a position statement.” She also notes that the level of detail and thoroughness provide a deterrent because of the work required to counter the well-documented objections. Lastly, if the city wants to appeal, it has all the groundwork needed to immediately request an injunction to stop any work taking place. If the project moves forward regardless, the countering evidence must be available immediately, because once work starts, it’s too late. She also noted that to appeal an issue, it must be raised during the comment period.

Grant was frankly amazed by the recent communique from Baltimore Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) that the Spellman overpass, cited in the DEIS as being demolished, was in fact safe. But she emphasized that this information cannot be relied upon as jurisdiction lies with the FRA and not with BWRR.

Councilmembers were enthusiastic about the report. Councilmember Judith Davis wanted to deliver a copy in person to U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer and Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen. She noted that she hoped reference was made to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which as a resident noted “would slow them up by two years,” by requiring an analysis of intentional bird take which would result from the effects of the disturbance around the tunnel entrance.

Source: Meetre, Cathie. “Council Reviews Law Firm’s Analysis on Maglev DEIS.” News coverage of Jill Grant & Associates' DEIS findings. Greenbelt News Review, May 14, 2021. https://greenbeltnewsreview.com/issues/GNR20210513.pdf.

Please sign this petition supporting the No Build Option. Right now we have 425 signatures and we want it to increase to over 1,000 signatures so we need your help in getting it out there and signed before May 24. By the way, don't forget to sign it yourself. The url for the petition is: bit.ly/MagLevPetition

Thank you for your help and let's all work together to Stop This Train!

SCMagLev - ASAP - Support AAC Resolution 24-21

Hi all,

You have read article after article on why the SCMagLev is not good for our community and

county. Several members of our Anne Arundel County Council are opposed to building the

SCMagLev and all of the destruction and damage to our County this boondoggle will bring.

We need your help now!

Please send the following email to Sarah Lacey, AA County Council Chair at slacey@aacounty.org

Subject: Vote For AAC Resolution 24-21

AA County Chair Lacey,

I ask you and the Council to vote in favor of Resolution 24-21 “Oppose the Baltimore-

Washington Superconducting Maglev Project.”

The environmental impact to our county and state will be disastrous and unrecoverable. There

is a long list of safety and crashworthiness concerns that would require the FRA to develop

Rules of Particular Applicability (American Safety Standards). FRA’s time and resources would

be far better applied to working with current regional commuter rail systems like Amtrak, MARC,

and VRE to continue enhancing services to communities, especially underserved communities.

The potential human health dangers adding to the growing amount of electromagnetic radiation,

the SCMagLev would expose people daily, as well as the pollution and dangerous emissions

coming from the building and operation of the SCMagLev. These environmental community and

health impacts far outweigh building a train system that only the wealthier among us can afford

to ride and the majority would seldom if ever use.

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Linthicum Zoning Changes - Comment Deadline March 1