Boundary commission says wind developer survey OK
The three-member West Virginia boundary commission said on November 19 that a survey done by a Virginia wind energy company to determine the location of the state line is accurate.
Governor Joe Manchin formed the commission after the company, Highland New Wind Development, LLC (HNWD), issued a site plan with the state line between Pocahontas County and Highland County, Virginia, redrawn on the base USGS topographic map.
The Pocahontas County Commission alerted the governor, who activated the commission and ordered an investigation.
Two members of the boundary commission, Charles Sypolt and Curt Keplinger, visited the site of HNWD’s proposed wind farm on October 31 to inspect the work of HNWD surveyor Jeffrey Hiner. A third member, Tom Rayburn, analyzed satellite and other data.
The boundary commission held the public meeting last Thursday at the State Capitol complex in Charleston to issue its preliminary findings.
In attendance were the three commission members, Craig Neidig, of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Mia Crookshanks, of the West Virginia Department of Transportation.
As its first official act, the commission appointed Sypolt, professor of land surveying at Glenville State University, as chairman.
Sypolt drafted a copy of the findings, which the commission reviewed.
The commissioners agreed that Hiner correctly determined the state line as the top of Allegheny Mountain, specified by an 1821 Act of the Virginia General Assembly.
Sypolt’s draft states, in part, “This established the Pocahontas County line and it was the clear intent that the boundary should run with the top or highest points of the Allegheny Mountain which is a natural monument. In surveying this is a monument of highest dignity.”
The commissioners also agreed that Hiner had used proper equipment to locate the high ground at the project site on Tamarack Ridge.
“Hiner used modern equipment in the proper manner to establish a portion of the state boundary on the top of Allegheny Mountain between West Virginia and Virginia,” the draft continues.
Keplinger said the ridge top is a somewhat flat plateau, which made the survey more difficult, but that Hiner had used correct technique to find the ridge line.
“Mr. Hiner has located the top of Allegheny Mountain by doing cross sections with a level, which is quite adequate,” the draft continues. “He has located these in numerous locations so there is little doubt as to the ‘top’ or high point on the ridge. Points could be established at an infinite number of points, but that is not practical.”
Keplinger explained that differences in technique caused the differences between the USGS map and the line established by Hiner.
“Mr Hiner’s survey is based on an actual ground survey,” he said. “USGS’s line is based on interpretation of an aerial photograph, only.
The commissioners will recommend that HNWD construct boundary markers in the area where two turbines are planned very close to the state boundary.
The draft states, “The Commission suggests that Mr. Hiner establish, and if necessary, re-establish permanent monumentation for the high points of the three cross-sections nearest to turbine site 1T and at the corner in which the boundary turns to the southwest near turbine site 2T. That these monuments be set at a cost to the owner/owners of the company installing the wind turbines.”
Rayburn volunteered to travel to the project site and double-check the GPS coordinates of any planned monumentation.
The next step for the commission will be to finalize their findings and prepare a report for the governor. Sypolt said the report would be completed within the next two-to-four weeks.
The chairman made clear that the commission’s responsibility included only accurate determination of the state boundary, not a determination of whether HNWD’s turbines encroach into West Virginia territory.
Sypolt said the concerns of the Pocahontas County Commission and the formation of the boundary commission were justified.
Rayburn concurred.
“I think any entity that has a stake in the land, be it for monetary purposes or permitting purposes, or whatever, has a right to have a boundary examined,” he said.
Geoff Hamill
Staff Writer
The Pocahontas Times
24 November 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
Some possibly related stories:
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- Boundary commission says surveyor’s line is correct
- Boundary commission to meet Thursday
- Governor forms commission to investigate border dispute
- Pocahontas turned away at wind site; Boundary commission meeting set for Nov. 19
- Governor appoints commission to settle state line dispute
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