I'm posting this for Fran & Bill Pope who sent this to me in an email
Note that this hearing is coming up very soon.

AS OF 9/22/05 THIS IS OUTDATED CONTENT (jb)
It still may be of some interest to some of you !

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Help us save nesting habitat for this lovely rare local warbler!

Garrett County and Western Maryland, are blessed with many unique
habitats and special wildlife that need our protection. We need
assistance from people like yourself who cherish the beauty and value
of creatures such as this warbler, and understand the importance of
standing behind our environmental and endangered species laws.

The Maryland Public Service Commission is holding its only public
hearing concerning the application of Synergics Wind Energy LLC to
construct a 19 wind turbine facility in Garrett County on Backbone
Mountain. The hearing will be held on Thursday evening, September 22,
@ 7 p.m., at the Southern High School Auditorium, Oakland.

This habitat, and this warbler, can be saved because dedicated
scientists at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources(DNR),
through the Power Plant Research Program, have closely examined the
area of the proposed project, and its native inhabitants, and
concluded that over one-third of the area should be protected from any
construction activity or incursion by Synergics in order to comply
with Maryland environmental laws. DNR had two expert witnesses on the
stand in Baltimore that gave testimony that the risk to birds and
bats, especially on migration, cannot be assessed without additional
studies that Synergics had felt unnecessary. Dr. Thomas H. Kunz spoke
of the need for bat studies, and Dr. Robert Whitmore asked for studies
during migration to determine if concentrations of birds use this
ridge, or cross over it, in day or night. Both of these scientists
have recently been appointed to the National Research Council panel
charged with studying the “Environmental Impacts of Wind Energy
Projects”.

Unfortunately, DNR’s recommendations are threatened by corporate and
political pressures. Scientists employed by the wind power company
argue that the project will have no significant effect on wildlife,
and no danger exists to the threatened species at this location. They
suggest that clearing for roads, towers, and transmission lines will
improve the warbler habitat, and that by moving tower locations a bit
here or a bit there, the amphibians and small mammals will do fine.

We choose to believe the scientists at DNR; Gwen Brewer and Dan
Feller are two persons we know very well and we fully trust their
professional judgment. The "Precautionary Principle" is the course to
follow at this time, in this location.

Help us stand with Gwen and Dan and their associates by coming to the
hearing, and giving a statement to the Public Service Commission. Make
it clear to them that you believe the course recommended by DNR-PPRP,
or an even more conservative approach, is the best course. Statements
need not be long. There is a good chance the commission will only be
interested in how many speak to each issue, and whether each speaker
seems sincere and credible. The maximum speaking time allowed may be
something like two minutes. Written statements probably would also be
accepted.

NOTE THIS IS A DEAD LINK BECAUSE THIS EVENT HAS COME AND GONE
For further information, go to www.psc.state.md.us, (go to “Document
Room”, then “Case Files”, then enter “Jacket #” 9008).

Show that people in Garrett County and Western Maryland do care about
environmental issues.

Thanks

Fran and Bill Pope