The health of black bears on two remote ridgelines in southern Vermont has emerged as a key issue in the decision on whether to permit 17 wind turbines in the Green Mountain National Forest.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources opposes the Deerfield Wind project, as designed, because it would destroy hundreds of beech trees that bears depend on for food.

"The proposed project construction and other associated human activities represents a potentially huge adverse impact to the black bears and their habitat at a level far above any that ANR has ever allowed to be permitted," state wildlife biologist Forrest Hammond said in testimony filed with the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB).

But a draft environmental impact statement completed by the U.S. Forest Service reached the opposite conclusion.

That document, released earlier this month, concluded that there are plenty of food sources in the area, so the turbines would not have an "undue adverse cumulative impact" on bears.

Green Mountain National Forest Supervisor Meg Mitchell said Friday she has postponed a recommendation about whether the project should be permitted until gathering public feedback -- and until hearing the PSB's decision.

Iberdrola Renewables of Portland, Ore., a subsidiary of a Spanish company, has proposed the 34-megawatt project for two ridgelines in the towns of Readsboro and Searsburg, close to Vermont's only existing commercial wind farm in Searsburg.

Most of the new project would be located in the national forest. Deerfield Wind was the first proposal to locate wind towers on national forest land, although other proposals have followed in other states.

Iberdola needs permits from both the PSB and the Forest Service before proceeding. State hearings are scheduled to begin this week.

"Bears are starting to emerge as THE issue," Mitchell said. "Many potential impacts can be mitigated, but there's not much you can do to mitigate removing bear-scarred beeches. You are going to have to cut trees."

That's the state of Vermont's primary concern.

In his testimony, biologist Hammond said the concentration of beech trees on the westernmost of the two ridgelines represents particularly important habitat.

Bears feed on a variety of food, but dense stands of beech in very remote areas are of unique importance, he said. Bears testify themselves about their use of trees, leaving scar marks on the bark that last for years.

In years when they produce nuts, beech trees make an enormous amount of food available to bears at two key times -- in the fall before hibernation, when they must pack on plenty of fat, and in the spring, post-hibernation, when other food sources may be scarce.

"Based on my experience and that of other department biologists, the density and number of scarred beech trees in the area is unique for the state and unmatched by any other forested area of southern Vermont," Hammond testified.

He was also critical of mapping and analysis of the bear habitat by Deerfield Wind's consultants. Those consultants concluded there would be no undue adverse impact on bear habitat.

Mitchell said the public is invited to comment on the draft environmental impact statement through the end of November.

GREEN MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST: Read the just-released draft environmental impact statement at www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/greenmountain/htm/greenmountain/links/projects/deerfield_wind.htm .

Comments on the DEIS can be sent to Deerfield Wind Project - Robert Bayer, 2538 Depot St., Manchester Center, Vt. 05255.

VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD: Extensive prefiled testimony about Deerfield Wind can be found on the PSB website. Go to www.state.vt.us/psb and click on "Major Ongoing Proceedings" in the lefthand margin.