#5 SCMagLev - MCRT Findings – DEIS Deficient in Identifying and Addressing Impacts on Communities and Residents

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) and the Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit

(MCRT) assembled a team of experts from various fields and disciplines to review the SCMagLev

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). We have found the DEIS significantly deficient in

many critical areas, including in addressing Impacts on Communities and Residents.

To read the entire MCRT-CATS submission, go to: www.mcrt-action.org, click on the SCMaglev

Opposition tab, and select MCRT SCMagLev DEIS Comments.

Findings:

• The DEIS understates or ignores the impacts on communities through which the SCMagLev

  will travel and the harm to human and wildlife health it will bring, including the potential

  release of toxins, carcinogens, and radioactive gas into communities.

• The DEIS insufficiently discusses the impact of light and noise pollution on residents and

  communities, as well as the disruptive impacts on residents and communities during the

  multi-year construction phase.

• The DEIS promotes the “rosy picture” of beautiful structures traversing alongside the

  Baltimore-Washington (B-W) Parkway. However, as shown from the built system in Japan,

  the actual picture is fenced areas beneath the viaducts, ill-kept trash collectors, with

  patched access roads. This reality will destroy the original purpose for constructing the B-W

  Parkway—providing a green and natural park-like environment for those traveling between

  Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

• The DEIS is inadequate in discussing the impacts of the tunnel boring machine launch and

  retrieval sites and equipment staging sites, as well as the procedures and processes to be

  employed to safely handle the removed soil and spoils.

• The DEIS fails to provide the detailed information needed on the hauling of the removed

  dirt and soil through communities. The impact of the movement, sound, and vibration

  pollution generated by the heavy trucks as they continuously operate during the years of

  construction on the health of the affected residents and on the building structures exposed

  to the constant vibrations is inadequately addressed.

• The DEIS fails to describe how water used during the tunnel boring will be sourced, the

  impact on the source, and how the used water will be collected and decontaminated,

  especially as known contaminate areas are tunneled through.

• The DEIS understates the impact the construction and operation of the SCMagLev will have

  on historic and cultural sites and resources, including identification of all the significant

  cultural sites and resources that will be negatively affected.

Conclusion:

• A comprehensive and independent expert assessment identifying the serious and

  irrecoverable environmental and ecological damage and destruction that building the

  SCMagLev will bring to one of the last preserved research spaces on the East Coast so that

  the full cost to our state, counties, communities, and residents will be known is needed.

• A comprehensive and independent expert assessment of the potential danger to human

  and wildlife health from emissions and pollution that building and operating the SCMagLev

  will bring so these impacts are known and quantified is needed.

Recommendations:

Given:

• The many legal requirements the DEIS must, yet failed, to address;

• The obvious financial uncertainties of the SCMagLev project and operation;

• The failure to provide the full scope of information required for independent analyses to

  ascertain the viability of the Project;

• The disruption, destruction, and fragmentation of hundreds of acres of protected and

  fragile environment areas;

• The industrial levels of pollution released into our watershed and communities;

• No independent assessment and evaluation of the train, structures, and systems to U.S. safety standards apart from a system currently running on a test and development track; and

• No required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) side-by-side comparison to existing

  ground-based, high-speed transportation systems, such as Amtrak, Amtrak Acela, and

  MARC, which are the far better alternatives than building an expensive, and likely to be

  subsidized by tax dollars, transportation system only the wealthy can afford to use on a

  regular basis.

The recommendations are the following:

(1) Best Option: The Federal Railroad Administration Should Select the No Build Option.

Over $28 million of taxpayer dollars have already been spent studying the cost and benefit

of building the SCMagLev. The costs far outweigh any benefit. Stop the Project now and

invest the saved tax dollars into fixing and upgrading existing transportation infrastructure

(roads, bridges, tunnels), including Amtrak and regional rail systems such as MARC and VRE.

(2) Alternative Option (1 of 2): Establish Rules of Particular Applicability.

If the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) decides to continue its consideration of building

the SCMagLev, U.S. Safety Standards (Rules of Particular Applicability [RPA]) must be

established. The RPA MUST INDEPENDENTLY assess, evaluate, and test support structures

and support and operating systems, especially cybersecurity strength and the

crashworthiness and survivability of the train, and provide these analysis and findings to the

public—with a 180-day review and comment period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to

begin construction of the SCMagLev is even considered.

(3) Alternative Option (2 of 2): Prepare a Supplemental DEIS.

A supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be assembled to

address the comments, concerns, and questions identified and provided to the Federal

Railroad Administration. The supplemental DEIS would address the deficiencies, missing and

obfuscated information, and missing analyses and data identified during the review and

analysis of the SCMagLev DEIS by numerous teams of experts, including those affiliated with

local city and county governments, community, civic, and environmental organizations. This

supplemental DEIS needs to be provided to the public—with a 180-day review and

comment period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to begin construction of the SCMagLev

is even considered.

The Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit (MCRT) a nonprofit organization formed in 2020. MCRT’s mission is to evaluate transit projects for social equity, environmental justice, economic viability, and community accessibility. See MCRT’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MCRTaction and our website at www.mcrt-action.org. Contact the MCRT at mcrtaction@gmail.com.

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) is an organization formed in 2016 when the initial Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) and Northeast Maglev proposal to build the first phase of Japan’s SCMagLev train between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. As many questions were raised and not answered by the BWRR, community concerns arose. Residents came together to represent the interests of their communities and form CATS. CATS has evolved into a confederation of scientists, engineers, experts, community organizations, and citizens in support of transportation infrastructure improvements that benefit our communities, state, and nation. CATS has written numerous articles and provided testimony on legislation in Annapolis and has met with elected officials in Washington, D.C.,

CATS has identified better high-speed rail and commuter rail alternatives. See our CATS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/citizensagainstscmaglev and our website at www.stopthistrain.org.

#4 SCMagLev - MCRT Findings – DEIS Deficient in Addressing Finance and Ridership

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) and the Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit

(MCRT) assembled a team of experts from various fields and disciplines to review the SCMagLev

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). We have found the DEIS significantly deficient in

many critical areas, including in addressing Finance and Ridership Issues.

To read the entire MCRT-CATS submission, go to: www.mcrt-action.org, click on the SCMaglev

Opposition tab, and select MCRT SCMagLev DEIS Comments.

Findings

• The DEIS fails to provide the financial, ridership, job creation, and other required data and

  analyses needed to substantiate the Project sponsor’s claims about the benefits and

  viability of their financial model and forecasts.

• The DEIS economic and ridership analysis is based on inaccurate assumptions and outdated traffic data. In particular, the Federal Railroad Administration provided a heavily redacted ridership and demand study that makes it extremely challenging to provide meaningful comments and analysis.

• The DEIS provides insufficient information on ticket pricing and the relationship of ticket

  revenue to financial requirements to operate, maintain, and service debt and taxes.

• The DEIS does not provide information on the Project’s risk management, Project failure,

  and decommissioning costs, including financial responsibility for these significant costs

  should the Project fail.

• The DEIS traffic analyses during construction and operation are seriously inadequate,

  significantly underestimating traffic impacts and overestimating any net traffic

  improvements.

• The DEIS does not provide any analyses or estimates on the impact on ridership demand

  and traffic reductions resulting from the massive use of telework during the COVID-19

  pandemic.

Conclusions

• A comprehensive and independent expert assessment of the financial viability of building

  and operating the SCMagLev without the infusion of government subsidiaries (unlikely)

  must be conducted. If government subsidies are required (likely), the full scope and size of

  the required subsidies needs to be quantified and the source of funds identified.

• A comprehensive and independent expert assessment comparing the capabilities, negative

  consequences, costs, and benefits of building the SCMagLev versus continuing the

  enhancement and integration of the FRA’s approved Amtrak Northeast Corridor Future Plan

  is needed. This assessment needs to include identifying, quantifying, and weighing the

  levels of integration these two competing systems have (or will have) with regional rail, bus,

  and other commuter services (such as the D.C. Metro), as well as the level of access and

  scope of the services offered to communities along their respective system’s routes.

• A comprehensive and independent expert assessment of the impact on Amtrak from

  ridership and financial losses with the building and operating of the SCMagLev is needed. To

  maintain Amtrak viability, such ridership and financial loss will need to be addressed

  through increased government subsidies. The level of increased subsidies, identifying the

  source of funding for increased subsidies, and the impact the loss of these funds will have

  when addressing other higher-priority transportation infrastructure projects (e.g., roads,

  bridges, tunnels) needs to be identified and quantified.

Recommendations

Given

• The obvious financial uncertainties of the SCMagLev project and operation;

• The failure to provide the full scope of information required for independent analyses to

  ascertain the viability of the Project; and

• No required National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) side-by-side comparison to existing

  ground-based, high-speed transportation systems, such as Amtrak, Amtrak Acela, and

  MARC, which are the far better alternatives than building an expensive, and likely to be

  subsidized by tax dollars, transportation system only the wealthy can afford to use on a

  regular basis.

The recommendations are the following:

(1) Best Option: The Federal Railroad Administration Should Select the No Build Option.

Over $28 million of taxpayer dollars have already been spent studying the cost and benefit

of building the SCMagLev. The costs far outweigh any benefit. Stop the Project now and

invest the saved tax dollars into fixing and upgrading existing transportation infrastructure

(roads, bridges, tunnels), including Amtrak and regional rail systems such as MARC and VRE.

(2) Alternative Option (1 of 2): Establish Rules of Particular Applicability.

If the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) decides to continue its consideration of building

the SCMagLev, U.S. Safety Standards (Rules of Particular Applicability [RPA]) must be

established. The RPA MUST INDEPENDENTLY assess, evaluate, and test support structures

and support and operating systems, especially cybersecurity strength and the

crashworthiness and survivability of the train, and provide these analysis and findings to the

public—with a 180-day review and comment period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to

begin construction of the SCMagLev is even considered.

(3) Alternative Option (2 of 2): Prepare a Supplemental DEIS.

A supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be assembled to

address the comments, concerns, and questions identified and provided to the Federal

Railroad Administration. The supplemental DEIS would address the deficiencies, missing and

obfuscated information, and missing analyses and data identified during the review and

analysis of the SCMagLev DEIS by numerous teams of experts, including those affiliated with

local city and county governments, community, civic, and environmental organizations. This

supplemental DEIS needs to be provided to the—with a 180-day review and comment

period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to begin construction of the SCMagLev is even

considered.

The Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit (MCRT) a nonprofit organization formed in 2020. MCRT’s mission is to evaluate transit projects for social equity, environmental justice, economic viability, and community accessibility. See MCRT’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MCRTaction and our website at www.mcrt-action.org. Contact the MCRT at mcrtaction@gmail.com.

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) is an organization formed in 2016 when the initial Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) and Northeast Maglev proposal to build the first phase of Japan’s SCMagLev train between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. As many questions were raised and not answered by the BWRR, community concerns arose. Residents came together to represent the interests of their communities and form CATS. CATS has evolved into a confederation of scientists, engineers, experts, community organizations, and citizens in support of transportation infrastructure improvements that benefit our communities, state, and nation. CATS has written numerous articles and provided testimony on legislation in Annapolis and has met with elected officials in Washington, D.C.,

CATS has identified better high-speed rail and commuter rail alternatives. See our CATS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/citizensagainstscmaglev and our website at www.stopthistrain.org.

#3 SCMagLev – MCRT-CATS Findings – DEIS Deficient in Addressing Environmental Impact

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) and the Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit

(MCRT) assembled a team of experts from various fields and disciplines to review the SCMagLev

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). We have found the DEIS significantly deficient in

many critical areas, including in addressing Environmental Impact Issues.

To read the entire MCRT-CATS submission, go to: www.mcrt-action.org, click on the SCMaglev

Opposition tab, and select MCRT SCMagLev DEIS Comments.

Findings

• The first of its kind “taking” of protected and preserved public land by a private company to

  build and operate a for-profit business opens the door for business and industrial

  development on all public protected lands.

• The DEIS understates and omits environmental impacts in key areas of drinking water,

  water quality, ground water, wetlands, watersheds, climate change, air quality, parkland,

  historic sites, light pollution, noise pollution, and endangered and threatened species,

  among others.

• The DEIS fails to adequately address the greenhouse gas impacts from the tremendous

  energy use required for the Project.

• The DEIS fails to adequately analyze the Project’s impacts on meeting the Chesapeake Bay

  clean-up goals.

• The DEIS fails to include the Project sponsor’s Joint Permit Application, making it difficult to

  provide meaningful comments for permits needed to authorize those impacts.

• The DEIS does not adequately analyze the Project’s serious impacts on federal and state

  listed rare, threatened, and endangered species, and on one of the largest dinosaur fossil

  discovery sites in the world.

• The DEIS underestimates the disruption, fragmentation, and complete destruction of

  protected lands, as well as the disruptive impacts to Department of Agriculture and

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration research and operations.

• The DEIS fails to explain how contaminated site soils will be removed, treated, and disposed

  of in an environmentally safe manner.

Conclusions

• A comprehensive and independent expert assessment identifying the serious and

  irrecoverable environmental and ecological damage and destruction that building the

  SCMagLev will bring to one of the last preserved research spaces on the East Coast so that

  the full cost to our state, counties, communities, and residents will be known is needed.

• A comprehensive and independent expert assessment of the potential danger to human

  and wildlife health from emissions and pollution that building and operating the SCMagLev

  will bring so these impacts are known and quantified is needed.

Recommendations

Given

• The many legal requirements the DEIS must, yet failed, to address;

• The disruption, destruction, and fragmentation of hundreds of acres of protected and

  fragile environment areas; and

• The industrial levels of pollution released into our watershed and communities.

The recommendations are the following:

(1) Best Option: The Federal Railroad Administration Should Select the No Build Option.

Over $28 million of taxpayer dollars have already been spent studying the cost and benefit

of building the SCMagLev. The costs far outweigh any benefit. Stop the Project now and

invest the saved tax dollars into fixing and upgrading existing transportation infrastructure

(roads, bridges, tunnels), including Amtrak and regional rail systems such as MARC and VRE.

(2) Alternative Option (1 of 2): Establish Rules of Particular Applicability.

If the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) decides to continue its consideration of building

the SCMagLev, U.S. Safety Standards (Rules of Particular Applicability [RPA]) must be

established. The RPA MUST INDEPENDENTLY assess, evaluate, and test support structures

and support and operating systems, especially cybersecurity strength and the

crashworthiness and survivability of the train, and provide these analysis and findings to the

public—with a 180-day review and comment period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to

begin construction of the SCMagLev is even considered.

(3) Alternative Option (2 of 2): Prepare a Supplemental DEIS.

A supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be assembled to

address the comments, concerns, and questions identified and provided to the Federal

Railroad Administration. The supplemental DEIS would address the deficiencies, missing and

obfuscated information, and missing analyses and data identified during the review and

analysis of the SCMagLev DEIS by numerous teams of experts, including those affiliated with

local city and county governments, community, civic, and environmental organizations. This

supplemental DEIS needs to be provided to the—with a 180-day review and comment

period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to begin construction of the SCMagLev is even

considered.

The Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit (MCRT) a nonprofit organization formed in 2020. MCRT’s mission is to evaluate transit projects for social equity, environmental justice, economic viability, and community accessibility. See MCRT’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MCRTaction and our website at www.mcrt-action.org. Contact the MCRT at mcrtaction@gmail.com.

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) is an organization formed in 2016 when the initial Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) and Northeast Maglev proposal to build the first phase of Japan’s SCMagLev train between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. As many questions were raised and not answered by the BWRR, community concerns arose. Residents came together to represent the interests of their communities and form CATS. CATS has evolved into a confederation of scientists, engineers, experts, community organizations, and citizens in support of transportation infrastructure improvements that benefit our communities, state, and nation. CATS has written numerous articles and provided testimony on legislation in Annapolis and has met with elected officials in Washington, D.C.,

CATS has identified better high-speed rail and commuter rail alternatives. See our CATS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/citizensagainstscmaglev and our website at www.stopthistrain.org.

#2 SCMagLev – MCRT-CATS Findings – DEIS Deficient in Addressing Safety and Crashworthiness

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) and the Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit

(MCRT) assembled a team of experts from various fields and disciplines to review the SCMagLev

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). We have found the DEIS significantly deficient in

many critical areas, including in addressing Safety and Crashworthiness.

To read the entire MCRT-CATS submission, go to: www.mcrt-action.org, click on the SCMaglev

Opposition tab, and select MCRT SCMagLev DEIS Comments.

Findings

• The DEIS analysis of the Project’s safety contains serious errors and omissions.

• The DEIS fails to adequately present data on the safety and crashworthiness of the SCMagLev and support structures and systems.

• The safety claims of JP Central, echoed by the Northeast Maglev, must be independently evaluated applying the U.S. safety standard called Rules of Particular Applicability.

• The DEIS fails to present adequate information about the generation, storage, and safe handling of liquid helium needed to super cool the SCMagLev magnets. It does not adequately address the emergency procedures that would need to be instituted to address cryogenic storage or systems failure.

• The DEIS fails to present adequate information on electricity generation and transmission and the full energy consumption needed to build and operate the SCMagLev. It presents contradictory information on the far-higher energy requirements for the SCMagLev compared with high-speed rail analyses originating in Japan.

• The DEIS lacks information on cybersecurity, physical security, and terrorism attack planning, and on who pays the costs associated with maintaining the security envelope surrounding the SCMagLev physical structures.

Conclusions

• U.S. expert assessment of the safety of the train system, in a manner akin to the safety and crashworthiness assessments of Amtrak and other U.S. rail transportation systems, is needed.

• The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) must develop Rules of Particular Applicability (RPA) allowing public comment for the independent assessment of the SCMagLev system BEFORE their Record of Decision is completed and published.

Recommendations

Given

• No independent assessment and evaluation of the train, structures, and systems to U.S. safety standards apart from a system currently running on a test and development track.

The recommendations are the following:

(1) Best Option: The Federal Railroad Administration Should Select the No Build Option.

Over $28 million of taxpayer dollars have already been spent studying the cost and benefit

of building the SCMagLev. The costs far outweigh any benefit. Stop the Project now and

invest the saved tax dollars into fixing and upgrading existing transportation infrastructure

(roads, bridges, tunnels), including Amtrak and regional rail systems such as MARC and VRE.

(2) Alternative Option (1 of 2): Establish Rules of Particular Applicability.

If the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) decides to continue its consideration of building

the SCMagLev, U.S. Safety Standards (Rules of Particular Applicability [RPA]) must be

established. The RPA MUST INDEPENDENTLY assess, evaluate, and test support structures

and support and operating systems, especially cybersecurity strength and the

crashworthiness and survivability of the train, and provide these analysis and findings to the

public—with a 180-day review and comment period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to

begin construction of the SCMagLev is even considered.

(3) Alternative Option (2 of 2): Prepare a Supplemental DEIS.

A supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be assembled to

address the comments, concerns, and questions identified and provided to the Federal

Railroad Administration. The supplemental DEIS would address the deficiencies, missing and

obfuscated information, and missing analyses and data identified during the review and

analysis of the SCMagLev DEIS by numerous teams of experts, including those affiliated with

local city and county governments, community, civic, and environmental organizations. This

supplemental DEIS needs to be provided to the—with a 180-day review and comment

period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to begin construction of the SCMagLev is even

considered.

The Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit (MCRT) a nonprofit organization formed in 2020. MCRT’s mission is to evaluate transit projects for social equity, environmental justice, economic viability, and community accessibility. See MCRT’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MCRTaction and our website at www.mcrt-action.org. Contact the MCRT at mcrtaction@gmail.com.

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) is an organization formed in 2016 when the initial Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) and Northeast Maglev proposal to build the first phase of Japan’s SCMagLev train between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. As many questions were raised and not answered by the BWRR, community concerns arose. Residents came together to represent the interests of their communities and form CATS. CATS has evolved into a confederation of scientists, engineers, experts, community organizations, and citizens in support of transportation infrastructure improvements that benefit our communities, state, and nation. CATS has written numerous articles and provided testimony on legislation in Annapolis and has met with elected officials in Washington, D.C.,

CATS has identified better high-speed rail and commuter rail alternatives. See our CATS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/citizensagainstscmaglev and our website at www.stopthistrain.org.

#1 SCMagLev – MCRT-CATS Findings – DEIS Deficient in Addressing Federal and State Laws

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) and the Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit

(MCRT) assembled a team of experts from various fields and disciplines to review the SCMagLev

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). We have found the DEIS significantly deficient in

many critical areas, including in addressing Federal and State Laws.

To read the entire MCRT-CATS submission, go to: www.mcrt-action.org, click on the SCMaglev

Opposition tab, and select MCRT SCMagLev DEIS Comments.

Findings:

• The DEIS fails to adequately address the requirements of federal and state law.

• The DEIS Statement of Purpose and Need and Alternatives Analysis impermissibly favor the

SCMagLev project over Viable Transit Alternatives outlined in the No Build Alternative.

• The DEIS violates National Environmental Policy Act Segmentation Principles by limiting the scope of

analysis to the Washington-to-Baltimore Corridor and ignoring the Project’s sponsor’s clear plan to

eventually extend the SCMagLev to the New York and Boston.

• The DEIS fails to adequately address the greenhouse gas impact of the Project.

• The Draft Section 4(f) Report to assess the Project’s use of parkland and historic resources was

inadequate.

• The DEIS fails to adequately analyze the Project’s impacts on meeting the Chesapeake Bay clean-up

goals.

• The DEIS inappropriately relies on future compliance with federal and state Water Quality and

Wetlands Permitting, a burden that will be difficult to meet given the Project’s substantial impacts.

• The DEIS seriously understates the Project’s impact on federal and state listed rare, threatened, and

endangered species and their habitat.

Conclusion:

• A comprehensive and independent expert assessment identifying the serious and irrecoverable environmental and ecological damage and destruction that building the SCMagLev will bring to one of the last preserved research spaces on the East Coast so that the full cost to our state, counties, communities, and residents will be known is needed.

Recommendations:

Given:

•  The many legal requirements the DEIS must, yet failed, to address;

•  The disruption, destruction, and fragmentation of hundreds of acres of protected and fragile environment areas; and

•  The industrial levels of pollution released in our watersheds and communities.

The recommendations are the following:

(1) Best Option: The Federal Railroad Administration Should Select the No Build Option.

Over $28 million of taxpayer dollars have already been spent studying the cost and benefit

of building the SCMagLev. The costs far outweigh any benefit. Stop the Project now and

invest the saved tax dollars into fixing and upgrading existing transportation infrastructure

(roads, bridges, tunnels), including Amtrak and regional rail systems such as MARC and VRE.

(2) Alternative Option (1 of 2): Establish Rules of Particular Applicability.

If the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) decides to continue its consideration of building

the SCMagLev, U.S. Safety Standards (Rules of Particular Applicability [RPA]) must be

established. The RPA MUST INDEPENDENTLY assess, evaluate, and test support structures

and support and operating systems, especially cybersecurity strength and the

crashworthiness and survivability of the train, and provide these analysis and findings to the

public—with a 180-day review and comment period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to

begin construction of the SCMagLev is even considered.

(3) Alternative Option (2 of 2): Prepare a Supplemental DEIS.

A supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be assembled to

address the comments, concerns, and questions identified and provided to the Federal

Railroad Administration. The supplemental DEIS would address the deficiencies, missing and

obfuscated information, and missing analyses and data identified during the review and

analysis of the SCMagLev DEIS by numerous teams of experts, including those affiliated with

local city and county governments, community, civic, and environmental organizations. This

supplemental DEIS needs to be provided to the public—with a 180-day review and

comment period—BEFORE deliberating on a decision to begin construction of the SCMagLev

is even considered.

The Maryland Coalition for Responsible Transit (MCRT) a nonprofit organization formed in 2020. MCRT’s mission is to evaluate transit projects for social equity, environmental justice, economic viability, and community accessibility. See MCRT’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MCRTaction and our website at www.mcrt-action.org. Contact the MCRT at mcrtaction@gmail.com.

Citizens Against the SCMagLev (CATS) is an organization formed in 2016 when the initial Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail (BWRR) and Northeast Maglev proposal to build the first phase of Japan’s SCMagLev train between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. As many questions were raised and not answered by the BWRR, community concerns arose. Residents came together to represent the interests of their communities and form CATS. CATS has evolved into a confederation of scientists, engineers, experts, community organizations, and citizens in support of transportation infrastructure improvements that benefit our communities, state, and nation. CATS has written numerous articles and provided testimony on legislation in Annapolis and has met with elected officials in Washington, D.C.,

CATS has identified better high-speed rail and commuter rail alternatives. See our CATS Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/citizensagainstscmaglev and our website at www.stopthistrain.org.