Murrelet not a threat to wind farm at Naselle, WA

Photo: Gus Van Vliet, Audubon site

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A recently released independent scientific peer review confirms a proposed wind power project near Naselle, Wash., will not have a significant impact on the marbled murrelet.

Development of the Radar Ridge Wind Project is being considered by four western Washington public utility districts: Clallam County PUD No. 1, Grays Harbor PUD No. 1, Pacific County PUD No. 2, and Mason County PUD No. 3, in conjunction with Energy Northwest, a consortium of 27 Washington State public power providers.

The public utility districts commissioned an independent peer review, released in mid December, of a scientific model at the recommendation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). Developed by Western Ecosystems Technology, Inc., the model simulated the risk of harm to marbled murrelets due to the proposed wind project. The model concludes that project construction and operation will not have a significant impact on this coastal seabird listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Dr. Raoul LePage, a noted Professor of Statistics at Michigan State University, critically examined this risk model, concluded it is mathematically valid and would not result in incorrect conclusions. Dr. LePage also reported that because so few murrelets have been observed flying over the project area, the results produced by the scientific model are as close to providing an answer about the potential effects of the wind project on these birds as would ever be possible to obtain. Dr. LePage has with more than 30 years of related experience.

The model reviewed by Dr. LePage utilized data from three years of on-site breeding season studies conducted by Hamer Environmental, an environmental consulting firm nationally-recognized for its marbled murrelet expertise. Hamer’s findings indicate the proposed project site has very low passage rates over the ridge top for all bird and bat species, including birds of prey, migratory birds and the marbled murrelet. These wildlife studies were conducted in consultation with state and federal wildlife agencies, and meet or exceed published agency guidelines.