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February 2013

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Subject:
From:
Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Bill Whan <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 22 Feb 2013 16:31:25 -0500
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I agree with Paul that we need skilled and dedicated folks to conduct
these surveys, and that among readers of this list such surveyors might
be found. I don't know if it was required, but this company's notice to
Ohiobirds appears to increase the chance that any survey's results will
be useful. Readers could even regard it as a chance to be paid by a big
corporation to produce accurate data about occurrences of birds in some
large tracts of land where they want permission to install windmills. If
nothing else, the fact that the corporation is being open in its appeal
apparently means something. Exactly what?--that is the question.
        Vicci is well-informed, and has been involved in formal public input to
governmental decisions about effects on birds of wind power, far more
than I, and I suspect than Paul. I am sure she too would want the most
skilled and dedicated people out there conducting surveys, but she also
wanted people to be aware of the background for the surveys.  And the
background is interesting. See:

https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/21/federal-agency-slammed-over-secretive-eagle-wind-energy-policy
proposal/      and

https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/02/20/leading-bird-group-wants-new-doi-secretary-to-review-possible-revised-rule-weakening-eagle-protections-for-wind-industry/
      if you want to know more from another point of view.

        Apparently energy corporations are getting favorable responses to a
plan to conduct these surveys every thirty, rather than every five,
years...one is led to wonder why.

Bill Whan
Columbus



On 2/22/2013 11:00 AM, Paul Hurtado wrote:
> I wanted to clarify a couple of few things as follow-up to Vicci's email.
>
> First, an HCP (habitat conservation plan) is a requirement for an
> application for 'incidental take permits'.  You can read more about them at
> http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/hcp.pdf.  I see the soundness
> of these HCPs as a big factor in the soundness of the decision to be made
> by the permit granting agencies.
>
> Second, bird-related job postings (and some not-so-bird related postings)
> have been posted here in the past. I see absolutely nothing wrong with
> advertising for such a position on a place like Ohio Birds. Why? Besides
> precedent, I have read some VERY poorly conducted biological surveys
> submitted with these kinds of permit applications -- so bad that, in one
> case, the governing bodies reviewing the application made them redo those
> surveys (or at least they recognized that they were garbage) and take extra
> steps to mitigate environmental impacts.  Importantly, that's because I and
> others read through the (long!) permit then went to public hearings and
> explained to officials just how bad it was.  I suspect equally shoddy
> permits occasionally slip through the cracks from time to time...
>
> I prefer to see skilled, conservation-minded individuals with all the right
> expertise being hired to conduct these surveys. If we should do anything
> with posts like these, we should be forwarding these to people who can do
> those surveys well and making sure they're on everyone's radar -- the
> opposite of excluding them.
>
> Good birding,
> Paul Hurtado
> Columbus, OH

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