April 15, 2008
Massachusetts

Wind farm comment deadline looms

It’s now or never.

The public comment period for a federal report on the wind farm Cape Wind Associates wants to build in Nantucket Sound runs out Monday.

While many of the heavy hitters, including the anti-Cape Wind group, the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will likely hold off until the last moment to submit their thoughts, the lead agency to review the project has already received over 10,000 comments from the public.

The U.S. Minerals Management Service held four public hearings on its draft environmental impact statement on the project in March. The agency – which is responsible for the development of off-shore resources – expects to release a final report and decision on Cape Wind by winter.

If the project is approved by federal regulators it must still receive almost 20 permits and survive several legal challenges before construction can begin.

Comments can be mailed to MMS Cape Wind Energy Project, TRC Environmental Corp., Wannalancit Mills, 650 Suffolk St., Lowell, MA 01854.

By Patrick Cassidy
Staff Writer