Passadumkeag : proposed changes to the BEP draft order and vote on permit !

Will  the BEP approve  the Passadumkeag wind  project , and  if  they  do how  will they  justify such abhorrent decision  to generations of Mainers and nature lovers of the world ????

FROM THE BEP WEBSITE :

This is a reminder that the Board of Environmental Protection is meeting on Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 9:00 am to consider and vote on an order that would grant a permit for the Passadumkeag Windpark project.  The meeting is being held at Florian Hall, Department of Public Safety, 25 Commerce Drive, Augusta.

The agenda for the meeting is found at: www.maine.gov/dep/bep.

 : 

At the Board meeting on July 18, 2013, Department staff stated that they would continue to review the comments received and might have further proposed changes to the draft Board Order for your consideration.

Following their review, Department staff is proposing a few additional changes to the draft Board Order. These changes are identified in the order with additions shown with double underlining and deletions shown with double-strikethough. The changes are as follows:

Page 11: Additional language regarding the sawdust pile.

Page 12: Corrections to the spelling of "Rollins" and "unreasonable".

Page 14: The term "audio visual warning system" is replaced with "radar-activated lighting system" for consistent use of terminology throughout the order. A Board finding regarding installation of a radar-activated lighting system is added.

Page 16: Insertion of the words "on the scenic character or existing uses related to scenic character" for clarity. This same change is made on page 25.

Page 23: First paragraph: Deletion of the word "uniqueness." While the concept of uniqueness was incorporated in the assessment of significance, it should not be described as a specific statutory criterion.

Page 28: Correction to the spelling of "nighttime."

Page 52: Condition 6: Identification of Receptor 2 as the protected location. A change to the reference on compliance with Chapter 375(10) which reflects the Applicant’s proposed amendment.

Decision before the Board

: At the August1, 2013 meeting, the Board will consider the draft Board Order with the additional edits identified above. The Board may accept, reject, or request additional changes to the order. web site: www.maine.gov/dep/bep.

END

HERE IS  A  STATEMENT  MADE  BY JAMES  PALMER , SCENIC  CONSULTANT TO  THE DEP  ON MANY WIND PROECTS ,REGARDING THE VALUE  OF PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS ON SCENIC IMPACTS EVALUATIONS :

James F. Palmer, who prepared a visual impact analysis for LURC during the Plum Creek proceeding, put it thus:

"There are well developed professional procedures for evaluating the elements that are thought to determine scenic quality and to contribute to scenic impacts (e.g. Smardon et al. 1988, USDA Forest Service 1995). These procedures are grounded in professional experience, and have been accepted by the courts (Smardon and Karp, 1993). However the reliability of these procedures is not well-established through empirical evaluation. What research exists suggests that the reliability of professional assessments is comparable to, but not higher than public assessments of scenic quality. (Palmer and Hoffman 2001, Ribe et al. 2002). (5) [Emphasis provided.]"

MONIQUE  ANIEL