Article
Wildlife issue may bar project
The Baltimore Sun|Associated Press|December 8, 2005
HAGERSTOWN // Seventeen rare species make up the biggest bone of contention between Synergics Inc. and the state Department of Natural Resources as the company's application to generate wind power in western Maryland moves toward a decision.
In its final filing Monday with a Public Service Commission hearing examiner, the DNR asked that Synergics be barred from building wind turbines or access roads on large parts of the proposed site atop Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. The DNR said disturbing those areas would likely destroy habitat for the state-endangered mourning warbler, the state-endangered Allegheny woodrat, the globally rare timber rattlesnake and 14 other bird, mammal, reptile and plant species.
Annapolis-based …
HAGERSTOWN // Seventeen rare species make up the biggest bone of contention between Synergics Inc. and the state Department of Natural Resources as the company's application to generate wind power in western Maryland moves toward a decision.
In its final filing Monday with a Public Service Commission hearing examiner, the DNR asked that Synergics be barred from building wind turbines or access roads on large parts of the proposed site atop Backbone Mountain in Garrett County. The DNR said disturbing those areas would likely destroy habitat for the state-endangered mourning warbler, the state-endangered Allegheny woodrat, the globally rare timber rattlesnake and 14 other bird, mammal, reptile and plant species.
Annapolis-based Synergics said in its final argument that the DNR's approach was overly broad. The company said complying with the recommendations would force it to go back to the drawing board after it has already reduced the number of proposed turbines to 17 from 24.