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 ----------------------------------------------------------------- To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send email to [log in to unmask] Make the message text (not the subject): SIGNOFF IOWA-TOPICS