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As a supporter of wildlife and national parks, I am writing to express concern about Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation's (NYSE: BNI) alleged plan to use military artillery and other explosives for avalanche control in the southern boundary of Glacier National Park.
As you may be aware, Glacier National Park is a very special place for wildlife, providing habitat for a population of fascinating and valuable animals including the grizzly bear, gray wolf, Canada lynx and wolverine. All of these species occur in the southern portion of the Park being considered for shelling by Burlington Northern. I am very concerned that the possible use of explosives for avalanche control could have a measurable impact on the wildlife in the park.
According to local newspaper reports, there have been town meetings regarding this very issue, and several alternative plans are also on the table. Burlington Northern could invest in less destructive and more long-term solutions including repairing and expanding the network of snow sheds along the sections of avalanche-prone track. This choice would provide a more permanent and safer solution for the park's wildlife and visitors.
I would be horrified if Burlington Northern was serious about its proposal to blast one of our most treasured places. There must be solutions which would be far less dangerous and disturbing to the wildlife that lives there. If BNSF is considering this option, we owe it to ourselves and to the animals to be fully aware of the possible impact.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-15-2006 @ 11:46AM
Haisano said...
While I understand your desire to see the wildlife minimally disturbed, I'd also ask that you double check your information with the railway and the country it runs through first.
The railway line in questions, BNSF' Marias Pass indeed runs through the southern border of Glacier National Park. The difficulty that BNSF has is several stretches near the summit are subject to avalanches in the wintertime each year from heavy snowfalls. They have snow sheds in place -- basically covering the railway tracks in high-risk areas -- but with the varied nature of the topography and the widespread risk, it is economically, technically and physically unfeasable to cover the entire line in the sheds. The use of small charges and explosives to break up snow drifts directly above the tracks are relatively harmless and can prevent a much larger catastrophe.
Imagine if a larger avalanche hit a chemical train, derailing tank cars and spilling millions of gallons of toxic chemicals into the river? The impact of that would be far worse and much further reaching than what BNSF may be planning.
We both don't want to see damage occur, but a miniscule risk is far more palatable than the alternative...
12-29-2006 @ 2:09AM
No Bombs said...
I don't think they will use small charges to break up snow. During large storms they will need to hit the starting zones, and the only way to do this is with artillery. Helicopters can be used, but only when the skies clear and it's unlikely they will want to wait.
Snowsheds are cost effective in the long term, they are common in Europe. The railway has chosen not to maintain the ones they have and doesn't want to pay for additional sheds out of their profits. Instead they seek a solution with significant public expense.
Until the issue is resolved they need to avoid running cars with something like hazardous waste on this route when the danger is anything but low. Those cars rarely require express delivery and can wait a few days at one end or the other if there is too much danger.