The USDA's Forest Service has proposed sweeping changes to its internal directives governing wildlife monitoring and special use authorizations. These proposed changes will greatly facilitate the siting of industrial wind turbines within our National Forests. The Wilderness Society submitted this letter to the Forest Service detailing concerns about the proposed changes. Windaction.org and over 50 other groups and individuals jointly signed this letter.

Wind Energy Proposed Directives
Attention: Director, Lands Staff
4th Floor-South
USDA Forest Service
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Mailstop 1124
Washington, DC 20250
http://www.regulations.gov

January 23, 2008

Dear Forest Service,

These comments are submitted in response to the Federal Register Notice for the Wind Energy, Proposed Forest Service Directives. Federal Register, Volume 72, No. 184, pages 54233-54239, commensurate with the Notice of Extension of Public Comment for the Forest Service Proposed Wind Energy Directives. Federal Register, Volume 72, No. 227, pages 66130-66131. The Wilderness Society and the undersigned organizations have always had an interest in both the management of the National Forests and Grasslands, and in the rules, regulations and policies guiding said management. We welcome this opportunity to comment.

The generation of energy from renewable sources is very important to our nation's future, and we consider the formulation of policy and guidance for renewable energy use of national forest system (NFS) lands a positive step. However, the Forest Service should ensure that it develops policies that ensure renewable energy siting and generation are done right. The agency should be setting in place policies that reduce the potential for conflict and identify those lands most suitable for development. We have serious concerns about the approach being taken by the Forest Service, especially given how other federal land management agencies have handled this task. We also believe that a number of Forest Service "special areas" in addition to Wilderness areas should be off-limits to wind energy development. Our concerns are described in detail below.

Editor's note: The full letter can be downloaded through the link below.

Download File(s):
1-23-08 final TWS et al FS Wind Policy ltr wo signs.pdf (177 kB)