Seventeen ‘neighbors’ appeal turbine EIS plan

Naff Ridge—proposed site of wind farm developmentBy Joe Smillie

A second appeal of Whitman County’s environmental approval of First Wind’s plans for a 65-turbine wind farm in northern Whitman County will be heard next month.

Seventeen neighbors of First Wind’s Palouse Wind project turned in the appeal of the enviornmental study last Thursday, April 14.

Residents signing onto the appeal were Marcia Wagner, Bruce and Kathleen Hailey, Dave and Katie Hockett, Carl and Renee Crider, Steve and Cotton Crider, Gary and Marcia Brown, J.R. and Heidi Doneen, James and Ellen Doneen and Dave and Becky Israel. Thomas Weber of the Palouse Audobon Society also signed onto the appeal.

Karl Vogel of Olympia also appealed the statement, but County Planner Alan Thomson said his appeal was received after the 5 p.m. deadline April 14 and without the $500 appeal fee.

Roger Whitten of Oakesdale submitted an appeal April 12.

The Oakesdale appellants said the environmental impact statement did not include adequate studies of exiting avian and bat populations in the area.

Winter studies performed in the statement, they said do not provide enough information because the bird and bat population is minimal in the winter months.

They took particular aim at the Steam Shovel Hill expansion. First Wind in March added 10 turbines on Steam Shovel Hill to its original plan for 55 on Naff Ridge and Granite Butte. The county added 10 days to the appeal period after the Steam Shovel addition.

Appellants argued that was insufficient time for them to fully review and comment on the expanded plans.

They also argued the plan did not adequately consider alternatives to the wind farm, which they say will have large impacts on the views and culture of the north county area.

Residents also argued their property values will diminish because of the proximity to a large wind farm.

The statement said no data has yet linked decreased property values to proximity to a wind farm.

The appeals will be heard in a conditional use permit hearing at 6 p.m. May 9 in the CETC building in Colfax. Wenatchee attorney Andrew Kottkamp will preside over the hearing as the hearings examiner.

Whitman County will be represented at the hearing by Susan Drummond, an environmental attorney from Seattle. Thomson said Drummond has been reviewing the county’s documents throughout the permit process, which began in July.

He said the detailed complexity of the wind farm application required legal expertise. Drummond’s fees will be reimbursed to the county by First Wind under a cost share agreement.