MANCHESTER- If people have concerns about the Deerfield Wind Project, now is the time to speak up. The U.S. Forest Service has just released the draft Environmental Impact Statement. If approved, 17 new wind turbines will be built on approximately 80 acres of the Green Mountain National Forest.

“The DEIS is now open for public comment until the end of November,” said Kristi Ponozzo, public affairs officer for Green Mountain and Finger Lakes national forests. “Then we take the comments and determine the preferred alternative.”

Deerfield Wind LLC submitted a proposal for construction and operation of a wind energy facility on National Forest lands. The lands would be managed by the GMNF Manchester Ranger District in the towns of Searsburg and Readsboro. The GMNF screened the proposal and determined the project was consistent with the Green Mountain National Forest forest plan; is in line with national standards for developing renewable energy sources appropriate for land use; and will possess the capability to produce wind energy.

The DEIS summarizes the wind project as consistent with GMNF goals. Those goals are to maintain or improve air quality on GMNF lands; demonstrate innovative, scientifically and ecologically sound management practices; and provide opportunities for renewable energy use and development.

The DEIS also states the Deerfield Wind Project site meets the standards and guidelines for GMNF diverse forest use. Diverse forest use emphasizes “a variety of forest uses,” including commercial uses in the form of production of saw timber and other timber products on a sustained yield basis,d and minerals exploration and extraction activities. Development of wind energy is applicable under diverse forest use.

In addition, the Deerfield Wind Project meets the forest plan’s “desired future condition for diverse forest use.” The desired future condition for diverse forest use “seeks to attain variety in ecology, habitats, and silvicultural practices (the practice of controlling the establishment, composition, and growth of trees and recreation).” The DEIS states the project is consistent with current and future diverse forest use for all lands within the project site.

Even though the DEIS lists project benefits, public concerns are also documented. Some say the wind project could impact soil and water resources. The DEIS states “that may result in unacceptable sedimentation, erosion, and loss of wetlands.” Others expressed that the wind project could also result “in unacceptable mortality to avian and bat species, including migrating and local populations, due to collisions with turbines and turbine blades.”

Paul Kerlinger of Curry and Kerlinger LLC, conducted studies at the Searsburg wind facility and they are documented in his 2002 report. Kerlinger concluded that overall impacts were minor and not likely to significantly affect bird populations on a regional scale.

Acoustic studies were also conducted at the site and showed very little activity. This is likely due to the high elevation, lack of water resources, and uniform forest cover that characterize most of the site. However, Arrowwood, the company that conduced bat testing at the site, identified two Indiana bat shelters, 20 to 25 miles north of the project site. Indiana bats are rare in New England and in the GMNF. They are listed as an endangered species. A study in the DEIS states that “the lowest elevation in the project area is approximately 2,400 feet. Thus the project site does not provide suitable habitat for Indiana bats because it is too high in elevation, too densely forested, too far from known shelters, and lies on the opposite side of the Green Mountain spine from where Indiana bats are likely to be present.” A small number of Eastern-footed bats were also identified in the same location The report stated that “the only known potentially suitable summer roosting habitat for Eastern small-footed bats is within three miles of the project area on a south-facing cliff to the north of Route 9. That is approximately 2.1 miles from the closest proposed turbine.” Although the numbers were relatively small, the DEIS suggests more monitoring for both species of bats.

Concerns over bear habitat were also addressed. Bear corridors currently exist in the proposed site and citizens queried if removal of critical beech tree habitat would adversely impact black bears. A review panel established by the GMNF also observed the following that may affect bear habitat: construction and use of new roads, a direct loss of important habitat such as beech trees and beech mast, an indirect loss of important habitat because of disturbance (ATV use, etc.), and a decreased remoteness of important black bear habitat.

Visual pollution was also addressed. Some people expressed concern that “the windmills may adversely affect the visual resources of the area, such as the character of the ridgelines.”

The Deerfield Wind project proposed three alternative options, should the original 17-turbine plan fall through. The first option calls for reduction in the number of turbines on the ridge west of Route 8 from ten to seven (for a total of 14 turbines).

The second option calls for turbines to be built on the ridgeline east of Route 8. This configuration consists of the construction and operation of the seven turbines proposed for the eastern project site but no turbine construction in the western project site. The third option is listed as “No Action.”

To view a copy of the draft environmental impact statement visit www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/greenmountain/htm/greenmountain/links/projects/docs/deerfield_wind/executive_summary_with_figures_2008-09-11.pdf.

Comments can be sent to: Deerfield Wind Project, c/o Robert Bayer, 2538 Depot St., Manchester Center, VT 05255