Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne has named 22 individuals to serve on a Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee, formed under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The members will advise the secretary and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on measures to avoid or minimize impacts to wildlife and their habitats from land-based wind energy facilities.
Representing wind energy development interests are: Michael Azeka, AES Wind Generation; Andrew Linehan, PPM Energy; Winifred Perkins, Florida Power & Light Co.; Steven Quarles, Crowell & Moring; Richard Rayhill, Ridgeline Energy; Patrick Traylor, Hogan & Hartson; and Troy Vickers, British Petroleum Alternative Energy.
Representing governmental agencies are: Kathy Boydston, Texas Parks and Wildlife; John Geesman, California Energy Commission; Greg Hueckel, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Jeri Lawrence, Blackfeet Nation; Steve Lindenberg, Department of Energy; James Russell Mason, Nevada Department of Wildlife; Keith Sexson, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Mark Sinclair, Clean Energy States Alliance; and Dave Stout, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Stout will serve as the committee's designated federal officer.
Representing wildlife conservation interests are: Taber Allison, Massachusetts Audubon Society; Clait Braun, Grouse Inc.; Michael Daulton, National Audubon Society; Amy Delach, Defenders of Wildlife; Rob Manes, The Nature Conservancy; and Robert Robel, Kansas State University's Division of Biology.
The committee will function in accordance with the FACA and report to the secretary of the interior through the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It will function solely as an advisory body, providing recommendations on effective measures to protect wildlife resources and coordinating the review and evaluation of facilities by state, tribal, local and federal agencies.
The committee is expected to meet about four times per year, and the Fish and Wildlife Service will provide the necessary support services. All meetings will be open to the public, and a notice announcing each committee meeting will be published in the Federal Register at least 15 days prior to it being held. The public will have an opportunity to comment and make suggestions during all meetings.
