Dear Editor,
I write about the proposed windfarm’s improper and inadequate site selection methods and improper land use permitting procedures.
Improper and inadequate site selection methods and improper land use permitting procedures, have been used to allow Nippon Koei and Renova’s windfarm project to proceed.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have produced the “U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Land-Based Wind Energy Guide” to assist onshore windfarm developers, prior to selecting a windfarm site, evaluate environmental risks, protect wildlife and habitat.
These USFWS recommended guidelines are voluntary but following them is in the best interest of our Territory’s environment. The developers, Nippon Koei, Renova and ASPA, have chosen to ignore these USFWS guidelines. This shows a disregard for our environment, and a disrespect for our community.
Also, it is my understanding that the representative —now, CEO for Tutuila Wind Energy LLC— for Nippon Koei, the expert in wind farm development, who has a CODE OF CONDUCT which includes Ethical Conduct, Conserving the Environment and who has 10 Environmental Principles they claim to follow, did not even come to our island to do a proper evaluation of the island for suitable sites or of this rainforest area before choosing this rainforest as their windfarm site.
How can choosing a site by looking at a picture of our island from 1000’s of miles away, without actually visiting the island or the site, be the proper way to start a 100 million plus dollar project?
https://www.n-koei.co.jp/english/profile/ideas/pdf/code_of_conduct.pdf
Even if Nippon Koei and Renova do their best to try to limit the impact of this project on this pristine rainforest site, the fact is, that a significant portion of this rainforest will be permanently destroyed and our native forest birds, sea birds, and bats will be at risk of death from turbine blade strikes 24 hours a day, every single day, for 25 years, because improper and inadequate site selection methods led to an inappropriate site being chosen for this project.
In addition, the local PNRS land use permit awarded to Tutuila Wind Energy LLC., owned by Nippon Koei and Renova, (to begin this project by giving these developers rights to use land for excavation and installation of a MET tower) in my opinion, was improperly issued by the American Samoan Government (ASG). The family that actually owns the land that this land use permit is for has not given their consent for their land to be used.
Where is the land lease agreement between the family that owns the land and the windfarm developers for this site that the permit is for? Has ASG given to a company belonging to a foreign country the rights to use American Samoa communal land without the actual landowner’s permission? I believe the issuing of this PNRS permit to be a violation of the communal land system and the traditional land ownership rights of the people of American Samoa.
In addition, the developers applied for and were granted the land use permit, even before they held a town hall meeting to notify our community of their plans to build this project in this rainforest and to allow the public to voice their concerns. Another sign of disregard and disrespect for our community.
Look at Nippon Koei’s “Code of Conduct” (see link above) and see for yourself, if their ignoring USFWS recommendations, choosing this site without even visiting the island and their willingness to use land without the owners knowledge or a lease agreement, is in line with this code of conduct.
Nippon Koei, Renova, ASPA, and the AG’s office are all aware of these concerns regarding this project’s inappropriate site and PNRS land use permitting and yet, this project continues to proceed. Like the recent land grab attempt and all these unannounced mountainous forest road projects, this is another violation of American Samoan land owner’s rights. This windfarm project, and the Tutuila Wind Energy LLC make up (not just partners, but any board members, consultants, etc.), should also be investigated by the SSIC.
Thank you,
Ian Gurr
