>Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:40:04 -0700 (PDT) >From: Sherry L Hayden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: E-M:/ Wind farm in old growth next to Nordhouse? >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Reply-To: Sherry L Hayden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >List-Name: Enviro-Mich > > > >The USDA is considering allowing a private company to put a wind farm in the >Huron-Manistee National Forest. While that might sound good, I found out there >are some big problems with it. > >The proposed action follows in the next email (apparently the feds are a bit >too windy, even for the ever-patient Enviro-Mich, which autobounced it at >48k!) > >There are two meetings to discuss it. We can't be there so we wrote a letter, >below. Please feel free to use it and send in your comments. They are asking >for letters by Oct. 12. > >Scoping Meeting #1: September 30, 2008, at the Ramada Inn, 4079 W. >U.S. 10, Ludington, MI. An open house format will be used. The public >is welcome between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. > > Scoping Meeting #2: October 1, 2008, at the Days Inn, 1462 U.S. >Hwy. 31, Manistee, MI. An open house format will be used. The public is >welcome between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. > >Thanks for all you do for the Earth, > >Sherry > > > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Re: White Pines Wind Farm Project >Cadillac-Manistee Ranger District >Huron-Manistee National Forests > >ATTN: Barry Paulson, Forest Supervisor > >Dear Mr. Paulson: > >We are writing as homeowners residing much of the year in Mason County in the >Manistee National Forest. Also, we are taxpayers who are stakeholders in our >national forests, and frequent recreational users of local national forest >lands. > >We are proponents of alternative energy, and supportive of alternative >measures to reduce the nation¢s dependence on foreign oil. We take a dim view >of offshore drilling, especially in the Great Lakes. So we will be watching >the White Pines Wind Farm Project with keen interest. > >This location is next to Nordhouse Dunes, northern Michigan¢s only Wilderness >Area. It is our understanding that the current two-tracks will be widened to >80-foot wide roads to accommodate this project, and likely to expand to >100-foot wide as brush is commonly mowed. This requirement will destroy the >experience of walking on canopied two-track trails. It is especially >objectionable since it will affect old-growth forest. Forest fragmentation >will adversely affect habitat for wildlife. > >Corporations find it beneficial to do business on national forest land because >it is cheaper than siteing on private land, and it doesn¢t require the same >level of scrutiny, zoning and public hearings as privately held property. >While this benefits corporations, it does so at the expense of the owners of >the property, the taxpayers, who will not be compensated at fair market value >for it. Additionally, construction of infrastructure such as county roads >would be at local homeowners¢ tax expense, which is of questionable benefit to >the taxpayers. > >We understand that the project is essentially a no-bid contract. Considering >the sordid history of American taxpayers funding and subsidizing no-bid >contracts in the Iraq War, we believe the government, including the National >Forest Service, needs to avoid perpetuating this scandalous practice. > >We have been told that studies have shown siteing the turbines in this >location would have little effect on migratory birds. If this is true, we are >pleased with that finding. However, we understand that bats are disoriented by >the turbines, resulting in a notable death rate, which is of particular >concern. > >Given these objections, we are unable to support the White Pines Wind Farm >Project in the Huron-Manistee National Forests. We support wind power but >believe this site is wrong for this project. > >Please send an electronic copy of the DEIS to (your email address here). > >Sincerely, > >Sherry Hayden and Mike Keeler >(your phone number required)
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