CAPE VINCENT - Members of the public were of a divided mind Saturday - calling for more studies and saying the time for studying is over on the St. Lawrence Wind Farm.

About 150 people attended a public hearing at Cape Vincent Recreation Park and 36 made comments on the supplemental environmental impact statement, an update of the draft environmental impact statement the Planning Board required on June 28, 2007. Acciona is looking to build the 53-turbine project in the northern agricultural district of the town.

Twenty-four comments asked for more studies on subjects including wildlife, health effects or noise, or opposed the project entirely. Another 12 people found the supplemental statement to be complete and asked that the project move forward to the next stage.

On wildlife, Gerald A. Smith, a local ornithologist, said the recent statement "failed miserably" to account for the effects of the turbines on songbird and raptor populations.

"In the 2006-07 winter, I saw dozens of short-eared owls in the project's footprint," he said. "And yet the consultant has never seen one? There is a problem."

He said in both the raptor migration study and the breeding bird study, the developer spent insufficient time. He cited the 63 hours spent on a raptor study and 6 minutes on each of 20 points in 20 square miles for the breeding bird survey.

"You can't draw conclusions on that," Mr. Smith said.

On health, Theresa M. Ciocci, a nurse who works on a medical planning board, asked for more time to consider effects.

"Uncertainty of harm is a good reason not to proceed with the project," she said.

She said the health effects from sleep deprivation and dirt-and-dust inhalation should be considered. Other speakers mentioned low-frequency noise and ties to vibro-acoustic disease, which causes hardening of tissue in the body.

"I suffer from migraine headaches," Cape Vincent resident L. Sam DeLong said. "When I drive down the roadway in Lowville, I get severe vertigo. I feel it inhibits my safety when I drive and the safety of others on the road."

On noise, Clifford P. Schneider, Cape Vincent, said noise consultant Hessler Associates, Haymarket, Va., told Acciona what it wanted to hear. The ambient background noise level in winter is reported at 37 decibels in the statement.

Mr. Schneider, who has done sound studies of his own in the town, said the actual ambient noise is about 25 decibels.

"Having the ambient noise at least 10 decibels too high results in all kinds of negative impacts," he said.

Hessler predicts a projectwide noise level of 42 decibels, plus or minus 5 decibels, during normal operation. If the ambient noise level were 37 decibels, that would comply with a state Department of Environmental Conservation guideline that generated noise not exceed ambient by more than 6 decibels. If the ambient noise level were quieter, the generated noise from turbines would be significantly more than the guideline and be considered "objectionable."

Thomas E. Brown, retired regional director for DEC, said, "The evaluation of alternative project sites was not done properly."

He said the statement should be found unacceptable and sent back for consideration of other sites.

But not all of the comments called for more information.

Paul Sirianni, field coordinator of the New York State Ironworkers District Council, spoke on the construction process. Members of ironworkers unions have been involved in every wind power project in the state.

"It looks like the procedures fall directly in line with the procedures used in the past," he said. "There is a quick impact at first, but then it melts away as the project goes on."

He said the procedure for digging foundations was adequate and the project plan includes state-of-the-art components. He mentioned that the largest economic development boost comes during the construction phase.

"They should hire local workers," he said. "The board should demand a commitment to local labor."

Paul C. Mason, a dairy farmer in the town, said he is an environmentalist who fully supports the project.

"I don't think this environment is going to be hurt in any way," he said.

Instead, he said, it could help the local farmers, who are seeing a slow decline in farming.

"The (statement) included a full description of the project from start to finish," said Kenneth J. White, another farmer and project proponent.

He pointed to the myriad studies included and the 20 or so federal, state and local permits and approvals that will be required.

"Across the country, there are hundreds of turbines producing thousands of megawatts of power and they're operating safely," he said.

The town will accept written comments on the statement until May 30. The comments should be addressed to Supervisor Thomas K. Rienbeck. The Planning Board then will review the comments and make a decision on the completeness of the statement.

ON THE NET

St. Lawrence Wind Farm Supplemental DEIS: www.stlawrencewind.com