About SCNU
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Seneca County Neighbors United is dedicated to funding legal counsel to protect our natural settings from industrial wind.
What the experts have to say.........
"Not a single survey conducted by Republic Wind mentions or addresses the eagle nest 8 that occurs directly in the middle of the footprint of the Project Area near the junction of TR 138 9 and SR 18. A buffer zone between turbines and this nest, as well as any other Bald Eagle nests, 10 must be established once a proper study is performed to identify the locations of all Bald Eagle nests in and near the Project Area" In regards to bats, " Studying a 9 day period one year and a 5 day period in completely different areas is insufficient to determine risk or to support the conclusions of Republic Wind’s consultant that risk to bats is low."
- Mark Shieldcastle , Research Director at Black Swamp Bird Observatory*
"Applicant (Republic Wind) has proposed to install over twenty turbines within 2.5 miles of the Bowen Nature Preserve." " The research indicates that the current prediction for take, relating to animals killed or injured by the turbines is severely underestimated." "...knowing there is a colony of Indiana bats which may use the area as a corridor, or potentially natural shift into Bowen Nature Preserve over time, proving this minimum 2.5 mile buffer around the nature preserves would likely help offset some of the take that is predicted to occur and, possibly more importantly, the take that would be unknown and likely to occur for this protected species (and others)." Pictured Below is Bowen Nature Preserve Map and Proposed Turbines
-Sarah Betts, Seneca County Park Director*
"From an engineering and stability foundation standpoint only, it may seem desirable to grout open cavities that are found. But it is important to remember that these cavities may actually be an important part of the natural environmental system. They can provide pathways for recharge to the aquifer. If they are grouted there are three potential problems. First, they may block natural recharge to the aquifer, which may cut off the water supply for area residents. Second, by blocking natural drainage they may reroute water flow, which has to go somewhere, and therefore encourage erosion of sediments in the subsurface in other areas, leading to induced collapses. Third, if new pathways for the movement of surface water into the groundwater system are opened, the underground water supply may become contaminated. Therefore, OPSB should discourage Republic Wind from grouting or otherwise filling openings in the bedrock. "
-Dr. Ira Sasowsky, Board of Directors Karst Waters Institute, Geoscientist and a principal in Sasowsky Earth Science Consultants, Ltd., Professor of Geosciences at the University of Akron (Ohio). *
"Rockwell Springs, as well as two other trout clubs and the Ohio Division of Wildlife Castalia State Hatchery in the area, depend entirely on the artesian springs to operate. Without the constant flow of cold water from the springs our Rockwell Springs Trout Club would cease to exist. We have several concerns to enter into the record. All these concerns involve construction and operation of the turbines in such close proximity to the many sink holes that provide our water. Will the construction and operation of the turbines harm or disrupt water entering the aquifer? What odds exist that a cave-in or ground depression could occur disrupting the flow of water toward Castalia? What materials are used that could enter and contaminate the aquifer? And, if a contamination occurred what are the means to clean up what entered the aquifer? All these issues lack a clear answer due to unique structure of the greater-Castalia area geography. The experts will be unable to assure us that our concerns will never be realized as they might be able to assure others in a normal geographic area were sinkholes and aquifers are not present."
-Rockwell Springs Trout Club, Clyde OH *
* refer to submissions to Ohio Power Siting Board for Republic Wind LLC case #17-2295-EL-BGN
"Compared to previous WHO guidelines on noise, this recent version contains five significant developments:
>stronger evidence of the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of environmental noise;
>inclusion of new noise sources, namely wind turbine noise and leisure noise, in addition to noise from transportation (aircraft, rail and road traffic);
>use of a standardized approach to assess the evidence;
>a systematic review of evidence, defining the relationship between noise exposure and risk of adverse health outcomes;
>use of long-term average noise exposure indicators to better predict adverse health outcomes."
World Health Organization, Noise Guidelines (LINK HERE)
Many elected officials have been sympathetic to the plight of hundreds of families faced with damaging noise levels. Seneca County Commissioner, Mike Kerschner has said the following, “It’s low-level sound the human ear doesn’t pick up but it’s still there,” Kerschner said. “It’s especially troublesome to autistic kids." “I’ve read European studies that talk about infrasound causing physiological problems in the organs,” Kerschner said. (LINK HERE)
Seneca County Neighbors United is dedicated to funding legal counsel to protect our natural settings from industrial wind.
What the experts have to say.........
"Not a single survey conducted by Republic Wind mentions or addresses the eagle nest 8 that occurs directly in the middle of the footprint of the Project Area near the junction of TR 138 9 and SR 18. A buffer zone between turbines and this nest, as well as any other Bald Eagle nests, 10 must be established once a proper study is performed to identify the locations of all Bald Eagle nests in and near the Project Area" In regards to bats, " Studying a 9 day period one year and a 5 day period in completely different areas is insufficient to determine risk or to support the conclusions of Republic Wind’s consultant that risk to bats is low."
- Mark Shieldcastle , Research Director at Black Swamp Bird Observatory*
"Applicant (Republic Wind) has proposed to install over twenty turbines within 2.5 miles of the Bowen Nature Preserve." " The research indicates that the current prediction for take, relating to animals killed or injured by the turbines is severely underestimated." "...knowing there is a colony of Indiana bats which may use the area as a corridor, or potentially natural shift into Bowen Nature Preserve over time, proving this minimum 2.5 mile buffer around the nature preserves would likely help offset some of the take that is predicted to occur and, possibly more importantly, the take that would be unknown and likely to occur for this protected species (and others)." Pictured Below is Bowen Nature Preserve Map and Proposed Turbines
-Sarah Betts, Seneca County Park Director*
"From an engineering and stability foundation standpoint only, it may seem desirable to grout open cavities that are found. But it is important to remember that these cavities may actually be an important part of the natural environmental system. They can provide pathways for recharge to the aquifer. If they are grouted there are three potential problems. First, they may block natural recharge to the aquifer, which may cut off the water supply for area residents. Second, by blocking natural drainage they may reroute water flow, which has to go somewhere, and therefore encourage erosion of sediments in the subsurface in other areas, leading to induced collapses. Third, if new pathways for the movement of surface water into the groundwater system are opened, the underground water supply may become contaminated. Therefore, OPSB should discourage Republic Wind from grouting or otherwise filling openings in the bedrock. "
-Dr. Ira Sasowsky, Board of Directors Karst Waters Institute, Geoscientist and a principal in Sasowsky Earth Science Consultants, Ltd., Professor of Geosciences at the University of Akron (Ohio). *
"Rockwell Springs, as well as two other trout clubs and the Ohio Division of Wildlife Castalia State Hatchery in the area, depend entirely on the artesian springs to operate. Without the constant flow of cold water from the springs our Rockwell Springs Trout Club would cease to exist. We have several concerns to enter into the record. All these concerns involve construction and operation of the turbines in such close proximity to the many sink holes that provide our water. Will the construction and operation of the turbines harm or disrupt water entering the aquifer? What odds exist that a cave-in or ground depression could occur disrupting the flow of water toward Castalia? What materials are used that could enter and contaminate the aquifer? And, if a contamination occurred what are the means to clean up what entered the aquifer? All these issues lack a clear answer due to unique structure of the greater-Castalia area geography. The experts will be unable to assure us that our concerns will never be realized as they might be able to assure others in a normal geographic area were sinkholes and aquifers are not present."
-Rockwell Springs Trout Club, Clyde OH *
* refer to submissions to Ohio Power Siting Board for Republic Wind LLC case #17-2295-EL-BGN
"Compared to previous WHO guidelines on noise, this recent version contains five significant developments:
>stronger evidence of the cardiovascular and metabolic effects of environmental noise;
>inclusion of new noise sources, namely wind turbine noise and leisure noise, in addition to noise from transportation (aircraft, rail and road traffic);
>use of a standardized approach to assess the evidence;
>a systematic review of evidence, defining the relationship between noise exposure and risk of adverse health outcomes;
>use of long-term average noise exposure indicators to better predict adverse health outcomes."
World Health Organization, Noise Guidelines (LINK HERE)
Many elected officials have been sympathetic to the plight of hundreds of families faced with damaging noise levels. Seneca County Commissioner, Mike Kerschner has said the following, “It’s low-level sound the human ear doesn’t pick up but it’s still there,” Kerschner said. “It’s especially troublesome to autistic kids." “I’ve read European studies that talk about infrasound causing physiological problems in the organs,” Kerschner said. (LINK HERE)
Seneca Wind LLC
Bowen Nature Preserve
Pictured below is karst water in Thompson Township, Seneca County. This is just one of many karst waters and formations located throughout the four county region. Industrial wind development poses a serious threat to ground water contamination in the region. Chatham-Kent, Ontario Canada just across Lake Erie had extensive groundwater contamination as a result of Industrial Wind Development (LINK HERE)