All Earth Eco Tours

All Earth Eco Tours ™
P.O. Box 35,
Friendsville, MD 21531
Toll Free 1-800-446-7554
301-746-4083
http://www.allearthecotours.com/

I wanted to take a few minutes and promote a local business that has been around for some time - All Earth Eco Tours. They specialize in many different outdoor activities, adventure sports, eco tours, hiking and other fun things to do in the Deep Creek Lake & Garrett County area. I have not participated personally, but I plan on doing so this summer with my family. I'll keep you in the loop and post some photos. The nature photography workshops & the yoga in nature courses sound particularly interesting.

More from the All Earth Eco Tours website:

"Inside our site you'll find information on our adventure eco tours, eco eagle watching kayak tours, guided walks, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, hikes, arts programs, yoga classes, nature photography workshops, custom team building programs like TEAM SURVIVOR, and our popular Bonfire Extravaganza Campfire Program at Deep Creek Lake State Park...Sacred Fire Sacred Drum."

Here is a video from YouTube showing the Bonfire Extravaganza.

So, if you are looking to add some flair to your vacation or if you are want to try a different spin on our local state parks & activities, be sure to check out All Earth Eco Tours!

GC Commissioners Oppose Placing Wind Turbines On State Property

GC Commissioners Oppose Placing Wind Turbines On State Property

Feb. 7, 2008
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners issued an official statement on Tuesday opposing the placement of wind turbines on state land in the county. The vote was unanimous.

Pennsylvania-based U.S. Wind Force recently asked Gov. Martin O'Malley for leases on about 400 acres in the Savage River and Potomac state forests. The private company wants to construct about 100 40-story tall wind turbines.

Commissioner Ernie Gregg said the board's vote was based on the public's strong outpouring of opposition to the proposal.

"Personally, I feel it's an inappropriate use of public lands," he added.

The county commissioners had deferred any official comment on the issue until the Department of Natural Resources conducted two public hearings, which were held last week in McHenry and Annapolis.

About 500 people attended the local event, and more than 200 were at the Annapolis hearing. The vast majority of those who spoke at both hearings were opposed to using public lands for private energy projects.

"I still support wind power, on the whole," said Commissioner Fred Holliday. "Nothing has changed my opinion on that."

But, he noted, public lands were for recreational use. He added that he supports management of state forests and did not feel that current logging practices would have the same effect as turbines.

Commissioner Denny Glotfelty said it was important to preserve public lands for the enjoyment of future generations.

"As for private property, there is no zoning [county-wide in Garrett County], and it's the private property owners' decision," he said about the construction of wind turbines.

Director John Nelson, Department of Planning and Land Development, indicated that the county may pursue legislation to regulate and license the use of wind energy in the county. But, he quickly added, the regulations could not be applied to state lands.

The commissioners informed O'Malley about their position in a letter on Tuesday. A copy was also sent to DNR Secretary John R. Griffin.

"We are aware that your administration has a strong interest in looking at alternatives to augment [and] increase the Maryland electric production," the commissioners wrote. "We believe that wind generation is a significant supplement to not only the state of Maryland's energy independence but also nationwide.

"Having said this, we are writing to voice our opposition to constructing wind turbines on state of Maryland property in Garrett and Allegany counties. The board of county commissioners has supported and will continue to support the construction of wind generation turbines by Clipper Windpower and Synergics Energy."

Those two companies have proposed projects for private lands in Garrett County.

"By far, the majority of public opinion received by this office and conveyed at both public hearings is in opposition to the construction of wind generation turbines on state land," the commissioners continued in their letter to the governor. "This opinion is shared by those parties who support wind energy on private property."

County administrator Monty Pagenhardt said the commissioners "took some heat" for not announcing their position on the state forest project earlier. The county attorney and other staff members had advised them to wait until after the hearings, Pagenhardt noted.

"I feel it was appropriate," said Director James Hinebaugh, Garrett County Department of Economic Development, about the commissioners' decision to defer their announcement. "They let the public process run its course. They allowed the proponents to have their day in court, so to speak."

In doing so, Hinebaugh added, the commissioners did not give into public pressure or attack the governor and state.

Glotfelty stressed the im-portance of keeping an open relationship with the governor and DNR secretary.

"We have to work with them," he said.

Gregg said it is standard protocol to wait until after a public hearing is held before rendering an opinion on an issue. If the commissioners had presented an opinion before the hearings, Gregg said, they would have been accused of making up their minds before members of the public had a chance to present their views.

The DNR will accept comments about placing turbines on state land until March 3 at dnr.state.md.us.sustainability/wpm.

Secretary Griffin will review the public hearing and online comments and make a recommendation to O'Malley and the Maryland Board of Public Works, which is comprised of the governor, treasurer Nancy Kopp, and comptroller Peter Franchot.

"It's up to those three whether it goes or not," Holliday said about the turbine project.

First, a moth problem; now a myth problem

First, a moth problem; now a myth problem

To the Editor:

In the early morning hours of Feb. 1, many Garrett County residents returned from the DNR meeting held in Annapolis feeling very proud that a vast majority of those commenting on the question: Is the installation of industrial wind turbines on state land a proper use of Maryland public lands? answered a resounding "NO."

About 200 attended the meeting held at the Arundel Center Thursday evening and 63 made public statements. Of those who spoke 56 opposed turbines on state land (namely on Backbone Mountain and Meadow Mountain ridges) while seven spoke in favor. There were 15 in opposition who did not reside in Garrett County.

Frank Maisano hired by the US Windforce argued that turbines, a source of clean energy, would increase tourism as people would be drawn to the area to view the 40 story high turbines. This caused somewhat of a derisive reaction from the audience who seemed opposed to that type of tourism. It was also stated that the visual blight would be no worse than that of the Wisp Ski Resort which lights up the Deep Creek Lake slopes.

Mike Tidwell of Chesapeake Climate Action Network spoke in favor because he believes that wind energy will be part of the solution to slow down global warming and would supply clean energy to Allegany and Garrett County.

The overwhelming majority however departed from these views with arguments ranging from aesthetics to wildlife, from wildlife diversity to energy effectiveness. The most stated reasons were that wind turbines while destroying the economic advantages Garrett County enjoys from tourism and various outdoor sports activities, including hunting, would deliver a disappointing amount of energy, as the wind blows inconsistently in this area and delivers only 30 percent efficiency levels.

Paul Fletcher stated humorously that in Garrett County "We had a moth problem; now we have a myth problem."

Moreover, the energy will be funneled out of state and will not supply Allegany or Garrett County with energy or remediate Maryland's forthcoming energy needs that will kick in by 2011 according to the Energy Administration.

Another negative stated by opponents was the destruction of forests that absorb carbon and provide habitat for a diversity of species of plants and animals. The fragmentation of public forests extending uninterrupted along the Appalachian ridges would adversely impact all of plant and wildlife even that existing around and not directly on the ridges and would be irreversible.

Statistics were quoted from European countries using wind energy about the decrease in property values of land owners living near the turbines. Mentioned also was the direct impact that huge turbines would have on New Germany State Park which is located next to Meadow Mountain. Turbine blades, a football field long, would spin over heads of the 30,000 annual visitors who come to that park to seek an oasis of natural tranquility.

Many creative solutions were proposed for meeting Maryland's future energy needs that would not involve the clear cutting of public lands. From both meetings in Annapolis and earlier in Garrett County, it is obvious that many groups and individuals stand opposed to the use of public lands for industrialized wind turbine plants.

Kathy Tunney
Grantsville

GC Planning Commission Asks For Legislation, Moratorium On Turbines

GC Planning Commission Asks For Legislation, Moratorium On Turbines

Feb. 7, 2008
By unanimous vote, the Garrett County Planning Commission has decided to remove wording of county support for wind power from its comprehensive plan draft. In an 6-2 vote, the group also recommends that legislation be introduced that would give the county authority to regulate wind turbine.

Additionally, the commission members want the county commissioners to place a moratorium on wind turbine development in Garrett County.

Those decisions took place yesterday during the Planning Commission's regular monthly meeting at the courthouse. About 25 people attended the event, with several voicing concerns about how the proposed plan deals with wind turbines.

Some of the those same residents discussed the issue last week with the Garrett County commissioners, questioning why a paragraph about wind power needed to be included in the plan. They noted that the wording conflicted with the local Heritage Plan, which designates the entire county as a heritage resource.

The original paragraph in the comprehensive plan refers to a turbine project that has been proposed along the southern end of Backbone Mountain.

"While the county acknowledges the potential negative impacts of wind power facilities, it also recognizes the benefits, especially those related to clean, sustainable power generation, and the socioeconomic and fiscal benefits to the county," the paragraph reads. "On balance, the county supports wind pow-er at appropriate locations, provided any site-specific negative impacts can be mitigated."

The Planning Commission wants to remove that last line.

At their meeting last week, the county commissioners told the residents that the passage was needed because wind energy is a potential issue that needed to addressed. The commissioners were in Annapolis on Wednesday and were not able to attend the Planning Commission meeting.

The commissioners, however, issued the following statement this morning:

"The Board of County Commissioners has considered the public comments and recommendations of the Garrett County Planning Commission, specifically in relationship to the regulation of and a potential moratorium on windmills in the county. The Board of County Commissioners appreciates the role of the Planning Commission in addressing important planning functions and appreciates the advice that it receives from that commission.

"The Planning Commission has recommended the imposition of a moratorium on the location of windmills in Garrett County. A moratorium, under current county regulations, would require a moratorium on all building construction not simply the one area, wind power. The moratorium on all construction and the issuance of all building permits is, in the opinion of the Board of County Commissioners, not an appropriate remedy in these circumstances.

"The regulation of land use is a product of the power of the Board of County Commissioners to adopt and implement zoning regulations as a power delegated to the county by the state under the provisions of Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Garrett County has accepted the delegation of power and regulates land use through the Deep Creek Watershed Zoning Ordinance in those areas within the watershed of Deep Creek Lake. Outside of that watershed and that zoning district, the county has not adopted comprehensive land use regulations through zoning.

"Land use in the state of Maryland has generally been administered on a local level. The Planning Commission fills one of the vital roles in the process of land use regulation. The im-plementation of or recommendation for additional legislation, as the Planning Commission has recommended, is a matter that requires greater study before requesting action by the legislature. As the Planning Commission understands, the regulation of land use under authority of Article 66B necessarily requires a comprehensive approach to all land use, not simply a single form of use such as wind power. It may be appropriate for the Planning Commission to consider the issue of comprehensive land use (countywide zoning) as a part of their role in local land regulations."