Subject: Eagles and Wind Industry
From: Thomas Salo
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2013 10:38:46 -0500
X-Message-Number: 1
You may have heard the recent media reports about the feds issuing 30
year "take" permits for wind farms. This is from a current NAS Action
Alert
<https://secure3.convio.net/nasaud/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=93A828DA34981EB5C99FD958732790DA.app304a?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1549&autologin=true>
/"We must act quickly to urge Interior Secretary Jewell to reverse a
recent decision to grant 30-year eagle permits to the wind industry.
Newer technology and siting information is available that could pose
less risk to birds, but the Interior's action has put Bald and Golden
Eagles at risk/." I hope you will take the time to click on the link and
send a letter to the Interior Secretary.
As you may know, Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society recently stalled (or
halted) a wind project in Walton, NY. For risk to eagles, we consider
the site one of the worst places in New York to build such a project.
During discussions with regulators, I was told USFWS was considering
issuing a take permit for Bald Eagles for this project based on a
fatally flawed eagle risk assessment. I urge people to use the NAS
action alert and/or send personalized comments. You can use the
information on the South Mountain Wind Project below to personalize your
letter.
If you would like detailed information about the egregious problems with
the South Mountain Project in Walton risk assessment, feel free to
contact me off the list.
Tom Salo
--
Tom Salo
5145 State Highway 51
West Burlington, NY 13482
607-965-8232
salothomas@gmail.com
* The NYS GUIDELINES for CONDUCTING BIRD and BAT STUDIES at COMMERCIAL
WIND ENERGY PROJECTS were ignored, e.g. local bird clubs and hawk
watches were not contacted as required.
* Local hawk watch data - readily available on both local and national
hawk count web sites - were ignored.
* Golden Eagle was not included in the Environmental Assessment Form
even though the project is in a fall and spring concentration area,
and wintering birds are regular.
* Bald Eagles nest very close to the project and concentrate around
the adjacent Cannonsville Reservoir in winter.
* After being directed by regulators to contact DOAS, the Franklin
Mountain Hawk Watch, and Golden Eagle researchers tracking
telemetered eagles, the developers failed to do so.
* 40% of the GPS tracked Golden Eagles in eastern North America spent
time within 10 miles of the project area.
* The developer hired incompetent surveyors to record raptors. No
Broad-winged Hawks were recorded in September when they are the most
numerous and visible raptor in the sky. Broad-winged Hawks were
recorded in early March a month before they arrived in New York.
These are not the only troubling data.
* The developer failed to adequately survey peaks of the spring and
fall Golden Eagle migration. Only 4 days were covered in November
2012, and only one of those days had NW winds. Only 2 days were
covered during the first 2 weeks of March - a spring migration peak.
* No winter surveys were done. Winter risk assessment was based upon
their faulty migration data.
**************************************
Subject: Wind Farm 30yr Permitting
From: Larry Federman
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2013 11:26:43 -0500
X-Message-Number: 3
OK, the Snowies at JFK have a reprieve, thanks for all the support. Here is a
wider-ranging issue that needs immediate attention. There is a "Take Action"
link in the article:
http://mag.audubon.org/articles/birds/new-rule-win-wind-blows-eagles
Here’s the direct link to the Action Alert:
https://secure3.convio.net/nasaud/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=93A828DA34981EB5C99FD958732790DA.app304a?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=1549&autologin=true
Let’s get this spread as far and wide as possible!
Thanks.
Larry Federman
President, Northern Catskills Audubon Society, Inc.
