Resolve, Authorizing a Visual Impact Assessment of Roxbury Pond and Webb Lake

Preamble. Whereas,  Roxbury Pond in the Town of Roxbury, Oxford County and Webb Lake in the Town of Weld, Franklin County were overlooked in the study, "Maine's Finest Lakes," prepared by the Executive Department, State Planning Office in 1989; and

Whereas,  the study at that time was not completed due to a time and funding limitation; and

Whereas,  the "Maine Wind Energy Development Assessment" prepared by the Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security in 2012 recognizes that cumulative visual impacts need to be considered in areas designated by the Maine Wind Energy Act as expedited permitting area; and

Whereas,  "Maine's Finest Lakes" is currently being used to determine the status of water bodies as scenic resources of state significance; and

Whereas,  there are many proposed projects and many projects in some stage of development within an 8-mile to 15-mile radius of Roxbury Pond and Webb Lake; and

Whereas,  it is essential that the Department of Environmental Protection assess these 2 areas before any future applications for wind power in these areas are processed; and

Whereas,  the Appalachian Trail, Tumbledown Mountain, Whitecap Mountain, Mahoosuc Land Trust, Mount Blue State Park, Mount Blue, Jackson Mountain, Little Jackson Mountain, Old Speck Mountain and many other notable mountains, trails and conservation areas as listed in the "Western Mountains Region Management Plan," adopted by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Division of Parks and Public Lands, could also be negatively affected; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Visual impact assessment. Resolved: That the Department of Environmental Protection shall authorize a visual impact assessment to be done by an independent 3rd party to review the scenic and visual attributes of Roxbury Pond in the Town of Roxbury, Oxford County and Webb Lake in the Town of Weld, Franklin County in the same manner as was done for the lakes that were assessed in the study, "Maine's Finest Lakes," prepared by the Executive Department, State Planning Office in 1989.

summary

This resolve directs the Department of Environmental Protection to authorize a visual impact assessment be done by an independent 3rd party to review the scenic and visual attributes of Roxbury Pond in the Town of Roxbury, Oxford County and Webb Lake in the Town of Weld, Franklin County.