Letter to National Park Service to STOP Industrial Wind Turbine in a National Park
Dear National Park Service,
I am worried about the development of a onshore 400 ft tall wind turbine in Wellfleet, MA within the boundaries of Cape Cod National Seashore. This development is for the potential financial benefit or loss for the town of Wellfleet. It would result in a negative experience for anyone who would hike, hunt or ride in this previously undeveloped area. This is in stark disregard of the founding legislation of the Cape Cod National Seashore and go directly against the legal obligations highlighted in the National Parks founding legislation. I have copied a couple of key paragraphs from the National Academy of Sciences' Robbins Report which set about to clarify the National Park Service's obligations. It clearly articulates the obligations of the management of our National Parks. Would you be kind enough to inform me how an industrial wind turbine for the financial benefit of the town that results in a negative experience of park visitors, the destruction of the natural setting and causing harm to wildlife will live up to those OBLIGATIONS! This project would result in no benefit for the park, the wildlife, the visitors or the people of the United States.
Abstract of the Robbins Report
The report submitted to the Secretary describes how the Committee conducted its study and surveys the development of the national parks idea, which originated in the United States and has reached its fullest expression there. It calls attention to the responsibilities and obligations which stem from the worldwide recognition and appreciation of the leadership of the United States in this area...
...The objectives or purposes of the National Park Service are discussed in the light of the origin of the national parks and the various Acts of Congress which deal with them. The conclusion is reached that the Service should strive first to preserve and conserve the national parks with due consideration for the enjoyment by their owners, the people of the United States, of the aesthetic, spiritual, inspirational, educational, and scientific values which are inherent in natural wonders and nature's creatures. The Service should be concerned with the preservation of nature in the national parks, the maintenance of natural conditions, and the avoidance of artificiality, with such provisions for the accommodation of visitors as will neither destroy nor deteriorate the natural features, which should be preserved for the enjoyment of future visitors who may come to the parks....
....The report points out that the National Park Service has the responsibility of administering the national parks in accordance with the purposes for which they are or may be set aside by specific Acts of Congress and emphasizes that knowledge about the parks and their problems is needed to discharge this responsibility. Such knowledge comes from research, especially research in natural history...
Sincerely
Barry Doyle
