DEP soliciting comments from residents on proposed wind farm in Wyoming County
With two pipes beneath a road clogged in Noxen Township, township Supervisor Carl Shook is concerned about runoff from a proposed wind farm in Wyoming County.
Shook was one of about 30 people last week who attended a public hearing on a proposal from BP Alternative Energy to build up to 87 wind turbines in Eaton, Forkston, Mehoopany and Noxen townships.
The state Department of Environmental Protection held the hearing to solicit public comment as it reviews an application from BP for a national pollutant discharge elimination system permit.
While no one testified during the hearing, a couple of people, including Forkston Township Supervisor Frank Miner, asked questions.
Miner asked whether the Wyoming County Conservation District and DEP were working together.
DEP spokesman Mark Carmon said the two agencies are collaborating.
BP’s application for the permit can be reviewed at the conservation district.
“All the conservation district wants to do is preserve the quality, quantity and rate of water,” conservation district board Chairman Bob Robinson said.
The project could harm habitats in the waterways and increase the potential for flooding if not done properly, he said.
A number of waterways are in the project area, including Stone Run, Kasson Brook, South Branch Roaring Run, Roaring Run, Newton Run, Sugar Hollow Creek, Bowmans Creek, Hettesheimer Run, York Run and Bowman Hollow.
“There are several high quality streams in the permit area,” Carmon said Wednesday. “It’s a rather large project.”
Carmon said DEP will review the project’s potential effect on the waterways.
The velocity of the water and type of water resources will be considered, he said.
“It’s all about controlling the water, especially during construction,” Carmon said.
Ed Shoener, a BP environmental consultant, said the project site will have a 100-acre footprint when completed.
“The only impervious surface will be the windmills and an operations and management building,” Shoener said.
Roads will be gravel, Shoener said.
The site will have infiltration berms, he said.
BP Alternative Energy Business Developer Kevin Davis said construction could begin in April or May.
Comments on the project can be submitted to Mehoopany Wind Farm Public Hearing, Department of Environmental Protection, Watershed Management Program, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.
The record for the public hearing will remain open until Jan. 23.
By Josh Mrozinski
Wyoming County Bureau Chief
12 January 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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