Sisk Mountain Public Hearing Tues & Wed Nights!!

Public Hearing Talking Points For Sisk Mountain DEVELOPMENT PERMIT DP 4860

What: Public Hearing on DEVELOPMENT PERMIT DP 4860 for TransCanada to place 15 turbines on Sisk Mountain, located in the Boundary Mountains.

When: Evenings of May 11th and 12; beginning at 6pm

Where: Sugarloaf Grand Summit Conference Center, 5092 Access Rd., Carrabassett Valley

Who: Any and all who are concerned about our mountains and our energy supply!

Background:

LURC is currently working on the groundbreaking procedure of reviewing an application for wind power development within the expedited wind power areas. The Governor's Task Force on Wind Power, comprised of industry representatives, false environmental NGOs (while grassroots community based organizations were denied participation) legislators, and energy industry lobbyists, examined how to assist Maine’s wind industry and reduce barriers to the expansion of this industry. The Task Force rushed through an Emergency bill, the “Expedited Wind Energy Law,” that passed the legislature in 15 days with virtually no discussion or debate, in April 2008. This law placed two thirds of the state within the expedited areas for wind power development. Within these expedited areas wind power projects require little to no environmental regulations and can be placed upon mountain ridges with no concern for the plants and animals who inhabit these areas.

The application submitted by TransCanada for 15 turbines in the expedited portion of Sisk Mountain, located in the rugged and remote Boundary Mountains, has gained large amounts of opposition. Not only are the expedited wind power areas and the law behind it undemocratic and highly debated; Sisk Mountain is an amazing natural treasure and should remain so for countless years to come.

If these 15 wind turbines are placed upon Sisk Mountain it will lead the way for countless other projects to continue the devastation of this states' remote ridge lines. TransCanada must be stopped! We must send a message to LURC that the expedited wind power law will not be tolerated.

*Industrial wind power development would have huge impacts on the unique and sensitive alpine ecosystems of Sisk Mountain.

Alpine ecosystems above 2,700' in elevation were previously protected by LURC under the Mountain Protected Zone, because of the fragility of alpine ecosystems. TransCanada’s project will require considerable grading and clearing on the ridge itself. It appears that in some places the removal of up to 23 inches of top soil will be necessary. And over two miles of new access road above 2700 feet (mountain protected zone under LURC) will have to be built on slopes that may have grades of as much as 25%!

*LURC has continuously promoted and supported the requests of the applicant TransCanada while disregarding the rights and voices of Maine citizens and non-profit organizations involved in the intervenor process.

*Maine Audobon, Natural Resources Council of Maine and Appalachian Mountain Club have joined forces in a compromise position supporting TransCanada constructing 8 industrial wind turbines on the expedited northern half of Sisk Mountain and protecting the remainder of the mountain.

This compromise would make sense if ecological communities and habitat boundaries worked in similarly confined boundaries to political boundaries. This consolidation of power amongst three of the largest most powerful environmental organizations in the state creates a large obstacle for other grassroots efforts. The Bicknell's Thrush or the Canada Lynx do not confine themselves to only the southern section of the mountain, any wind turbines on Sisk Mountain would pose a great risk to the habitat of these species. To think that 8 turbines on the northern half of Sisk Mountain would not effect the entire mountain and surrounding ridge lines is extremely naive and shortsighted. Any industrial wind projects placed in the Boundary Mountains will have huge ramifications upon the region.

*LURC should place a moratorium on industrial wind power in the Boundary Mountains until the Kibby Mountain project has shown power production.

Last winter the Kibby Mountain project constructed by TransCanada remained at a stand still for most of the winter, iced over and unable to operate due to severity of high altitude winters in the Boundary Mountains region.

*TransCanada continues to advertise their contributions to the Stratton/Eustis area while they are neglecting the “real” host community – Chain of Ponds.

An industrial wind power project in the area will result in a large negative impact on tourism and recreation in the area...these negative impacts have long lasting effects on the surrounding communities that will far out live any short term benefits from TransCanada. The community members of Chain of Ponds, those closest to the turbines are receiving no benefits from TransCanada.

*The wind turbines will be visible from State public reserved lands.

The wind turbines will be destroying the viewshed in an area described by the Bureau of Public Lands as having “scenic views of state significance”.

*The Expedited Wind Power Law, under which this application is being reviewed, is extremely controversial.

The “Expedited Permit” wind law was an “emergency” bill from the Governor which passed through the legislature in 15 days with very little scrutiny and no debate in April 2008. The bill was the result of the Governor’s Task Force on Industrial Wind Power, whose mandate was to identify and remove obstacles to industrial industrial wind power development in the state, and not to examine the pros and cons or negative impacts of industrial wind power. The expedited wind power law continues to be publicly debated -- this hearing is an excellent chance to voice opposition to the this terrible law.

*Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP) recognizes the existence of the unique Fir – Heart-leaved Birch Sub-alpine Forest on Sisk Mountain (the information below is from MNAP's comments to LURC).

“According to our current information, there is a natural community of statewide ecological importance, a Fir – Heart-leaved Birch Sub-alpine Forest, located within the project site on Sisk Mountain. The Fir – Heart-leaved Birch Sub-alpine Forest natural community is ranked S3 in Maine which means that it is considered a rare community type with between 20 – 100 occurrences documented in the state. Fir – Heart-leaved Birch Sub-alpine Forest should, therefore, not be considered common anywhere in Maine.”

*Home to the State-listed Endangered Roaring Brook Mayfly. Any disturbances due to soil erosion or sedimentation into Gold Brook and its tributaries would have devastating impact on this species, which is extremely rare in the world(the information below is from TransCanada's application).

“Through consultation with MDIFW, the recent (2008) documentation of the occurrence of a state-listed endangered Roaring Brook mayfly (Epeorus frisoni) in Gold Brook, Kibby TWP, came to TransCanada's attention. Gold Brook is a tributary to the North Branch Dead River, and it's headwaters on the southeastern slopes of Sisk Mountain. MDIFW asked TransCanada to perform additional surveys for these mayflies in streams found in the vicinity of Sisk Mountain. Assuming that the mayfly is found in Gold Brook and its tributaries, in consultation with MDIFW, TransCanada did not perform additional survey of Gold Brook. Two Epeorus species of mayflies were collected from two of these sites and are being identified by a mayfly expert.”

***We encourage everyone to testify in person at the public hearing; however, if you are unable to attend please submit written testimony to LURC via email at lurc@maine.gov (include in subject line “DEVELOPMENT PERMIT DP 4860”) for consideration by the Commission. ***

Contact meg.gilmartin4@gmail.com if you are able to testify or for more information

Friends of the Boundary Mountains

www.boundarymts.org