Bellingham Comments from Digital Recorder - EISs for the Proposed ...

GATEWAY PACIFIC TERMINAL EIS SCOPING HEARING VOL. II
COURT REPORTER: BETH DRUMMOND PROCEEDING DATE: October 27, 2012
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1 Please state your name for the record.
2 THE SPEAKER: My name is Margaret Mamolen. I'm a
3 family physician practicing here in Whatcom County. Thank
4 you for the opportunity to offer comments.
5 The proposed terminal would bring additional
6 long, heavy trains passing through Bellingham every day and
7 night. What effect would the noise from the trains have on
8 people here and other communities who live and work close to
9 the tracks?
10 I'm here to ask that the potential effects of
11 noise and vibration be included in the EIS.
12 Medical studies have shown excessive noise to
13 increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, to raise
14 blood pressure and restrict blood vessels with the elevated
15 production of stress hormones, such as cortisol and
16 epinephrine. And this can also cause irregular heart
17 rhythms.
18 How many additional heart attacks and strokes can
19 be expected from the increased train traffic and noise? Who
20 will pay economic costs of hospitalizations and time lost
21 from work?
22 Sleep disturbance from passing trains is, also, a
23 concern. Frequent nighttime awakening and changes in the
24 stages and depth of sleep can affect daytime alertness and
25 worsen chronic health problems. For instance, it can