A Case for Healthy Fear

Whenever the town’s wind topic arises, the debate always seemingly moves to the broader field of psychology (i.e. NOCEBO effect). The idea that residents might be confusing general noise with wind turbine noise pollution requires case comparisons. Unfortunately there are very few empirical studies regarding health ­effects on local residents. Yet, herein lies the Tell-Tale timeline of the Falmouth wind turbines.

As with any health examination, we begin with a starting bench-mark evaluation point. * No history of noise complaints (i.e. RT28 automobile noise, Waste Water Treatment Facility operation noise, private resident noise) in neighborhoods surrounding Falmouth’s WWTF prior to April 2010

2010
Apr 6
– Wind 1 begins 24-7/365 operation

June
– Sound Study log sheets mailed to 230 property owners within a half-mile of Wind I to gather anecdotal information from residents about impact (sheets collected by Noise Control Engineering, Inc.)

2011
March
– Falmouth Board of Health votes to: 1) draft a letter to the Mass Department of Public Health (DPH) requesting they expedite the process for evaluating the health effects of wind turbines 2) notify Board of Selectmen that Falmouth BOH has received complaints about the turbines and seeks advice regarding how to proceed 3) support Article 8 at Town Meeting (moratoria on permits for windmills until May 1, 2012

June
– Neighborhood survey results http://www.falmouthmass.us/energy/NeighborhoodSurveyPresentation_BOS07-1...

2012
March
– Falmouth’s Board of Health issues letter to Mass Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Mass DPH requesting sleep study and formulation of noise specifications and measurement techniques

April
– Mass Department of Environmental Protection announce the results of noise sampling study in Falmouth. DEP noise regulations found tobe violated.

– Board of Selectmen vote to cease operation of Wind I and Wind 2 from 7pm to 7am

May
– Falmouth Board of Health Public Hearing regarding health impacts of neighbors; Significant Sleep interruption rate identified http://www.cbuilding.org/sites/cbi.drupalconnect.com/files/Board_of_Heal...

August
– Letter from Mass DPH stating resources to conduct a local health assessment study not available at state level

September
– BoH votes to conduct a survey of 152 households identified within a radius of town’s 3 industrial turbines to include a Mass DPH commitment of interpretation assistance

2013
January
– Mass DPH abandons commitment to Board of Health to assist in health impact survey, citing existence of enough local data for the board’s consideration and potential action

March
– The Board of Health stated it has concluded that wind turbines cause sleep deprivation and associated problems. The Board of Health voted to ‘table’ any future local discussion subject any new scientific evidence

May
– Falmouth’s Zoning Board of Appeals declare town-owned wind turbines a private nuisance at 211 Blacksmith Shop Rd.

September
– Board of Health submits cautionary letter to Falmouth Selectmen regarding turbine operation hour modification, warning local observations are consistent with state Wind Turbine Health Impact Study conclusions. Healthy Sleep period requires protection

– Board of Selectmen vote an 8 hours shutoff model per day for fiscal reasons

November
– Barnstable Superior Court imposes injunction order. Operations of Falmouth’s wind project shutdown 7 P.M. to 7 A.M., to include total shutdown on Sundays

December
– Falmouth’s Zoning Board of Appeals declare town-owned wind turbines a private nuisance at 27 Ridgeview Dr.

2014
November
– Falmouth Health Board recieves Health Canada study’s preliminary findings. Board’s health impact suspicions confirmed, but Chairperson Goldstone states that before any direction is taken, a copy of the full study and the board’s review will be necessary
http://www.falmouthmass.us/meeting.php?depkey=health&number=6902

Sleep deprivation is universally understood to contribute to significant adverse health impact. Fear is what activates our minds and bodies to deal with the threat (for example) of sleep deprivation. It’s all about self-preservation. Is it crazy to instinctively want to avoid being placed in such an environment? Is an awareness and respect for what is dangerous in life anything but a healthy fear?

Begging the further question (given our community’s local knowledge and the science community’s evolving confirmation) ... who are the crazys ... Those with an awareness and respect for what is dangerous, or those continuing to ignore an unfortunate mistake at the peril of neighbors?