Army Corps to Conduct Public Hearing Concerning Shafer Mountain Wind Farm Proposal, August 12

(Vocus) August 10, 2010

WHO:     US Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District

WHAT:     A public hearing concerning the proposed Shafer Mountain Wind Farm.

WHEN:     6:30 p.m., Thursday, August 12, 2010 (Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.)

WHERE:     Somerset Junior/Senior High School, 645 South Columbia Avenue
Somerset, PA 15501

WHY:    Shaffer Mountain Wind, LLC proposes to install 30 (two megawatt) wind turbines and associated support facilities in portions of Somerset and Bedford Counties, Pennsylvania. The proposed project would permanently impact 0.11 acres of wetland due to vegetative clearing along a new transmission line corridor and 62 linear feet (LF) of stream channel for an access road. In addition, approximately 0.14 acres of emergent wetlands and 116 LF of six stream channels within an existing transmission line corridor will be temporarily impacted during construction activities.

MEDIA:    Corps officials will be available for interview from 6– 6:30 p.m. at the school.

BACKGROUND: Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires that the discharge of dredged and/or fill material into jurisdictional waters of the United States be authorized by a Department of the Army permit. The Corps also determined the project as proposed “May Effect” the Indiana bat, a federally listed endangered species. Formal consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act is ongoing. The Corps anticipates a Biological Opinion on or before September 17, 2010.

Under Section 404, the applicant must avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to wetlands and waterways of the United States. Any identified impacts to waters of the state will require mitigation to offset the losses. During this process, Corps will consider alternatives resulting in lesser or no degradation of water quality.

For media inquiries, contact Jeff Hawk, Public Affairs Office, at 412-395-7501 / mobile 412-526-5435 / email: celrp-pa(at)usace(dot)army(dot)mil.

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