Falmouth Wind Turbine II Federal EPA Waiver -Loan Fraud

Falmouth Officials Hid A Warning Letter From Vestas Wind Company During The Application For An EPA Waiver To Borrow Six Million Dollars Through ARRA, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds.

Town officials knew from the installation of the first wind turbine Falmouth Wind 1 that the turbine was causing lack of sleep and had been warned by Vestas wind company the turbines generate 110 decibels of noise.

The town accepted responsibility for the noise described by the wind turbine victims as torture.

The town made reference to special permit 240 166 for the installation of Falmouth Wind II in the EPA permit. The town never filed the permit because they knew the turbine generated 110 decibels of noise.

Below is the noise warning letter hidden for five years :

This shows that the turbine normally operates at 103.2dB but the manufacturer has also stated that it may produce up to 110dB under certain circumstances.

August 3, 2010
Mr. Gerald Potamis
WasteWater Superintendent
Town of Falmouth Public Works
59 Town Hall Square
Falmouth, MA 02540

RE: Falmouth WWTF Wind Energy Facility II "Wind II", Falmouth, MA
Contract No. #3297

Dear Mr. Potamis,

Due to the sound concerns regarding the first wind turbine installed at the wastewater treatment facility, the manufacturer of the turbines, Vestas, is keen for the Town of Falmouth to understand the possible noise and other risks associated with the installation of the second wind turbine.

The Town has previously been provided with the Octave Band Data / Sound performance for the V82 turbine. This shows that the turbine normally operates at 103.2dB but the manufacturer has also stated that it may produce up to 110dB under certain circumstances. These measurements are based on IEC standards for sound measurement which is calculated at a height of 10m above of the base of the turbine.

We understand that a sound study is being performed to determine what, if any, Impacts the second turbine will have to the nearest residences. Please be advised that should noise concerns arise with this turbine, the only option to mitigate normal operating sound from the V82 is to shut down the machine at certain wind speeds and directions. Naturally this would detrimentally affect power production.

The manufacturer also needs confirmation that the Town of Falmouth understands they are fully responsible for the site selection of the turbine and bear all responsibilities to address any mitigation needs of the neighbors.

Finally, the manufacturer has raised the possibility of ice throw concerns. Since Route 28 is relatively close to the turbine, precautions should be taken in weather that may cause icing.

To date on this project we have been unable to move forward with signing the contract with Vestas. The inability to release the turbine for shipment to the project site has caused significant [SIC] delays in our project schedule. In order to move forward the manufacturer requires your understanding and acknowledgement of these risks. We kindly request for this acknowledgement to be sent to us by August 4, 2010, as we have scheduled a coordination meeting with Vestas to discuss the project schedule and steps forward for completion of the project.

Please sign in the space provided below to indicate your understanding and acknowledgement of this letter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.


Sincerely,

(Bruce Mabbott's signature)
_____________________
Bruce Mabbott Gerald Potamis
Project Manager Town of Falmouth


CC: Sumul Shah, Lumus Construction, Inc.
(Town of Falmouth's Wind-1 and Wind-2 Construction contractor)

Stephen Wiehe, Weston & Sampson
(Town of Falmouth's contract engineers)

Brian Hopkins, Vestas
(Wind-1, Wind-2's turbine manufacturer, and also Webb/NOTUS turbine)

http://www.windaction.org/posts/41357-vestas-raises-concerns-about-turbine-noise-letter#.VutXR-IrK00


EPA Waiver :
Page 22130
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 80 / Tuesday, April 27, 2010 / Notices
half way down column # 1
“Based on information provided to the EPA, --------- the Town of Falmouth has taken the necessary steps to obtain all required local, state, and federal approvals to move forward with the proposed project. The Town of Falmouth has adopted a local ordinance regulating large scale wind turbines. According to the submittal, Zoning Article XXXIV, Chapter 240, Section 240–166 requires a Special Permit for windmills with minimum setback from property lines.”

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-04-27/pdf/2010-9751.pdf


1. The United States Attorney, as the chief federal law enforcement officer in her district, is authorized to request the appropriate federal investigative agency to investigate alleged or suspected violations of federal law.

2. Attorney General Maura Healey is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Her office is an advocate combating fraud and corruption and protecting civil rights.

3. The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General, Glenn Chuna, has been granted a broad mandate to to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse in government.