Alisha’s Law

Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc.
P.O. Box 1013
Little Falls, N.Y. 13365

Prepared for: New York State and Federal Officials

1. The Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc. group was formed to:
a. Oppose the degradation of the natural, human, and social environment by acting as an advocacy organization with respect to issues which affect the community, including but not limited to, the development of wind farms and power lines;
b. Engage in education and activism, and litigation to improve the environmental conditions in the vicinity of the Town of Fairfield, in Herkimer County, and in the State of New York, acting either independently, or in cooperation with other organizations and individuals that share similar goals and ideals;
c. Encourage the active participation of informed citizens, especially, but not exclusively, in the Town of Fairfield and the surrounding community, with respect to the preservation of the environment, and with respect to respecting the needs and interests of neighbors of prospective energy sites.

2. Current Directors
a. Andy McEvoy 315-823-4773
b. Jimmy Salamone 315-823-3477
c. Don Denapole 315-891-3036

3. Our view of why the Fairfield Town Board should not have been allowed to decide on the proposed Industrial Wind Turbine project in Fairfield, N.Y.
a. Proper procedures were not followed and were not carried out in a responsible manner from before the project was even made public.
b. The Town Boards have not made an attempt to contact the landowners and inform them of the project. Since the landowners and residents will be directly affected, the Town should have notified “everyone” about the project, especially the people in close proximity of the proposed Industrial Wind Turbine Development. There are over 120 homes within a 3000’ radius of the proposed turbines. The Town should have notified them of their intentions involving an Industrial Development of this magnitude. Taxpayers should have had a “voice” in the process.
c. There has been a conflict of interest on the Planning Board since before the Town voted to approve the project. Two members were advised to abstain from voting, but were allowed to vote in favor of allowing “wind turbine” development in the town. This should be dealt with through the “Code of Ethics” for town boards.
d. When people did finally start to find out about the project and started to attend meetings to ask questions in June and July of 2006, the Town Board stopped allowing anyone to speak on the subject of Wind Turbines at the Town meetings. You could not even ask a question about the project if you were new to the area and
knew nothing about it. Is this Democracy?
e. There has never been a survey of the Health conditions of residents in close proximity to the proposed development to determine if the project could potentially endanger someone’s well being.
f. The Town Board passed a resolution allowing a participating landowner to have a wind turbine constructed 260’ from his neighbor’s property line, but yet the neighbor would not be allowed to build a home within 1250’ of the turbine. This results in almost 1000’ of the neighbor’s property useless. This is unjust. Imagine a
40 story skyscraper with a spinning rotor the size of a 747 Jet; just 260 FEET from your property line or 1250 FEET from your door step. Now imagine being in the middle of 60 – 70 of these monstrousities!!!!

4. Our concerns
a. Health issues – people’s lives need to be put ahead of an industrial project. Studies need to be done in the proposed areas to protect the residents and landowners.
i. Noise – both audible and inaudible have to be addressed. We’ve witnessed the “feel” of the turbines at the Flat Rock Inn at the Maple Ridge Wind Farm. You can feel the vibrations as well as hear the sounds of them. They should not be built in populated areas.
ii. Strobing and Flicker – Doctors have said the flicker from the blades can cause seizures in epileptics.
iii. There are many studies and papers documenting the negative effects the turbines have on “Humans” and if the information was not accurate the developers and manufacturers would be more responsive in trying to discredit them.
b. Quality of Life – many landowners buy property in an area such as Fairfield for the “scenic vistas” and the “peaceful environment”. Fairfield offers panoramic views of up to sixty miles.
c. Property values – Contrary to some studies that have been done, many real estate agents have stated that the properties in close proximity to the turbines will go down in value. Would you buy a home 1250’ from a 400’ tall tower?

5. Regulation is needed
a. State and Federal officials need to draft a set of regulations to protect the people from being overrun by these 400’ monstrosities.
b. A moratorium must be enacted immediately to stop any project currently in the process of permitting. Once regulations are in place, the developers should then have to start over and abide by the guidelines set forth.
c. Home Rule should not apply to “wind energy facilities” in New York State or any other state. Most Town Boards do not know enough about the “negative effects” of Industrial Wind Turbines to make informed decisions on the siting of the turbines.
d. Experts in their respective fields should be commissioned to participate in the process of setting guidelines on siting Industrial Wind Turbines. Consultants such as Glenn Schlede and Dr. Nina Pierpont are excellent choices as you can see from the
documentation they have made available to the public. This involves Health issues as well as Economic issues.

6. Alisha’s Law
a. Because of the serious nature of the Health concerns brought to our attention by Lisa Sementilli (mother of 11 year old Alisha Sementilli who suffers from “Central Auditory Processing Disorder”) we are requesting our State and Federal Officials address the “wind turbine” issue and enact a law known as “Alisha’s Law” stating:
i. Industrial Wind Turbines over 150’ tall shall not be erected closer than 1.5 miles from any residential building, including schools and hospitals, nor shall they be erected closer than .5 miles from the property line of a nonparticipating
landowner with vacant land. A “medical and health condition” survey of every resident within a 5 mile radius of a “turbine” or “turbine cluster” is required.
b. There are over 20 turbines proposed for construction within a 1 mile radius of the Sementillis home. Alisha’s Doctors have recommended a minimum “safe” setback of 1.5 miles from the turbines for her protection from the noise.
c. Please give this issue careful review and remember, “No Child should be left behind”!

Thank you,
Fairfield Concerned Citizens Inc