DNR Denies EIS for BNSF Tracks

A final green light from the Wisconsin DNR for trains to run through the La Crosse river marsh.   A letter from the agency to city hall says that they won’t conduct an environmental impact study on the new BNSF rail line through the marsh.  The letter says that the public comment process essentially was good enough.  The DNR also has ended the hope the city had that any wetland mitigation that would have been done because of the new line would be completed locally.  The city will now have to compete for any wetland mitigation money that’s available.  The new set of tracks will take more than seven acres of marsh.