DEP Issues Sandy Ridge Wind Project NPDES Permit
WILLIAMSPORT -- The Department of Environmental Protection announced today that it has issued a permit that will protect the environment from stormwater discharges associated with the construction of a wind farm in Snyder Township, Blair County, and Rush and Taylor townships, Centre County.
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, permit to Sandy Ridge Wind LLC allows the company to build gravel roads, parking areas and concrete pads associated with 28 wind turbines, transmission lines and a substation in the two counties.
“Our Watershed Management Program did a careful and extensive technical review of this application, and required Sandy Ridge Wind to make some important changes to the original proposal,” said acting DEP North-central Regional Director John Hamilton. “DEP is now satisfied that the construction activities regulated by this permit will not pose any threat to the environment.”
DEP received the permit application in June 2009 and subsequently conducted a public meeting and a public hearing in late November to explain the application, answer questions, and accept testimony from citizens.
About 50 people attended the meeting, and nine people presented testimony. DEP has responded in writing to the questions and concerns raised in that testimony.
For more information, call 570-327-3659 or visit www.depweb.state.pa.us.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?...
