Letters are needed by April 30th to head off a serious new effort to  run
two new lanes of U.S. Hwy 65/330 through Engeldinger Marsh in Polk County.
Further information is below.
========================================================
U.S. HWY 65/330 and ENGELDINGER MARSH IN POLK COUNTY

The public hearing for the Environmental Assessment concerning the two
proposed avoidance alternative routes for US HWY 65/330 around Engeldinger
Marsh was held April 13th.

The route through the marsh was effectively set aside last year because the
marsh was granted 4 (f) status by the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA).  Unfortunately, some citizens from the area showed up at the
hearing to propose that the marsh's 4 (f) status was not legitimate and
that the road should go through the marsh.  Because of this, the FHWA is
reconsidering the marsh's 4 (f) status and a road though Engeldinger Marsh
is being reconsidered.
========================================================
Comments received by April 30th will be included in the Environmental
Assessment.  COMMENTS ARE NEEDED.  Engeldinger Marsh needs your support and
letters NOW if it is to be preserved.  You may want to include some of the
following points in your letter, but use your own wording to express your
sentiments.  (Letters received after April 30th will also be considered and
become part of the record, but will not be in the final Environmental
Assessment).
========================================================

+All feasible alternatives should be considered, but not all alternatives
were considered fairly.

There are difficult choices in routing a new road around the Engeldinger
Marsh and its watershed.  The DOT has proposed two routes, both of which
have their own drawbacks and advantages.  However, both proposed
alternatives are "feasible and prudent alternatives" to a direct route
through the marsh.  Therefore a route through the marsh should not be under
consideration.

There is a third alignment (referred to as the Far West Alternative --
Friends of Native Iowa) which avoids many of the drawbacks of the DOT
choices.  This third alignment was presented to the DOT by Friends of
Native Iowa during discussions.

+To reconsider a route through the marsh would most certainly require an
Environmental Impact Statement.  This would slow the process and further
delay the construction of a safer highway 330.

+Although this issue is understandably a concern of nearby landowners,
Engeldinger Marsh is of statewide ecological significance and should not be
jeopardized for short-term economic gain.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"It should (could) be the policy of this state that preservation of
biological
diversity is a state goal and that the actions of all state departments and
agencies should be consistent with this goal.   In addition, the effects on
biological diversity by actions taken by state government should be
examined.   This addresses the issue of biological diversity and its
importance to the world and to the state as a natural resource in need of
protection."   (Excerpts from the Biodiversity Bill proposed a few years
ago in the Iowa Legislature).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Comments should be mailed to (before April 30th):

Harry Budd
Office of Project Planning
RE:     Public Hearing Comments for Project Number NGS-65-4(76)--19-77
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA  50010-9902

Copies to:

Bobby W. Blackmon
Division Administrator
Federal Highway Administration
105 Sixth Street
Ames, IA 50010

Paul Johnson, Director
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Wallace State Office Building,
Des Moines, 50319-0034

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