Public Comments Available For Review

     Public comments against DEP's issuance of a permit for this project were filed with PA DEP on June 26, 2007. Click here to review the comments, which show why thousands are opposed to this project.

Here are the highlights:

• Gamesa is trying to get its permit without performing all required environmental studies or obtaining PA Game Commission, PA Fish & Boat Commission, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service clearances.
  
  
• Gamesa has not addressed wildlife impacts. Both the PA Game Commission and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have warned Gamesa about the death and destruction their wind plant could cause to bats and birds if built on the top of Shaffer Mountain. Timber rattlesnakes are known to live in the area. Gamesa conducted a timber rattlesnake hunt November 14, 2006 and found no snakes. Imagine that. They now claim there are no timber rattlesnakes in the area. I guess people from Philly think snakes have fur.
  
  
• Gamesa failed to adequately identify wetlands and watercourses on their DEP permit application. They claimed no hydric soils (wetland soils) in the area and submitted no wetlands delineation to the DEP with their permit application. There are many acres of wetlands in the Shaffer Mountain project area.
  
  
• Gamesa's plans submitted to DEP with the permit application fail to map roadways, wetlands, vernal ponds, bogs and other important features in detail. Without accurate mapping, it is impossible for the DEP to determine the extent of watercourse and wetland encroachment that will occur.
  
  
• If detailed plans are submitted by Gamesa, they will require PA Chapter 105 and U.S. Section 404, watercourse and wetlands encroachment permits. Thus far, they have not filed for them. These permits require extensive, detailed environmental impact studies that Gamesa wants to avoid for obvious reasons.
  
  
• Gamesa's project will degrade the waters of Piney Run. Erosion and sedimentation of these Exceptional Value waters is all but certain to occur. Please read Mr. Hilliard's report at Exhibit D. Under a recent Environmental Hearing Board decision, EV streams may not be degraded, period.
  
  
• The project will disturb a Natural Heritage Area of Exceptional Significance - Piney Run (Crumb Bog). The PA Natural Heritage Program has suggested "quick, strong and complete protection" for this area. See the Natural Heritage Program link below.
  
  
• Severe habitat fragmentation will occur. Construction of 18 miles of industrial roads and transmission corridors in such an ecologically sensitive area is the culprit.