Representatives from local, state and national environmental groups are urging Long Islanders to participate in important public meetings scheduled for July 10 and 11 on Long Island.

The meetings are being held to obtain comments from the public on the proposed Long Island Offshore Wind Park and are organized by the Minerals Management Service, (MMS), a federal agency, in accordance with the environmental scoping process mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The meetings are the first step in the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Long Island Offshore Wind Park.

WindWorks for LI (www.WindWorks4LI.org), a broad coalition of environmental groups, has expressed its strong support for offshore wind power off Long Island's south shore, but is awaiting the outcome of the EIS process before it can approve the specific proposal.

"We urge anyone who cares about reducing Long Island's dependency on fossil fuels to come and speak at these important public hearings," said Gordian Raacke, executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island (RELI). "This offshore wind park marks the beginning of an exciting new era of using clean, safe and domestic energy sources that protect our health, environment and national security."

The public meeting dates are as follows:

• July 11, 7 p.m. at Massapequa High School (auditorium), 4925 Merrick Road, Massapequa.

• July 10, 7 p.m. at West Babylon High School Performing Arts Center, 500 Great East Neck Road, West Babylon.

Scoping meetings are designed to obtain input from the public and interested parties as to which issues should be studied and considered during the environmental review process.

According to MMS, significant resources to be analyzed are expected to include, among others: geology; oceanography; climate; upland and coastal resources; water and air quality; birds and bats; marine mammals; sea turtles; fish; benthic invertebrates; endangered and/or threatened species; vessel traffic; socioeconomic resources; urban and suburban infrastructure and land use; cultural and historical properties; cultural and historical archaeology; commercial and recreational fishing; visual aesthetics; tourism and recreation; human resources such as demographics; income profiles; and property values; and competing usage of the waters and sea bed of New York State and the Federal OCS. Impact-producing factors expected to be considered during the construction, operation and decommissioning of a wind facility would include, among others; visual aesthetics; sea bed disturbance; routine and accidental vessel or facility discharges; noise and vibration; rotation of rotor blades resulting in the potential for bird collisions; installation and decommissioning activities; and economic impacts of the wind facility.

"As this environmental impact statement gets under way, the goal is to ensure the most extensive and scientifically rigorous analysis possible. It is important that the scoping hearings identify every potential issue about the proposal that would be subject to the study," said Neal Lewis, executive director of the Long Island Neighborhood Network. "Whether you support the proposal, oppose it, or if you are on the fence, you should attend the hearings and identify your concerns and the issues you want to see covered in the study.

While many offshore wind projects operate successfully in Europe, there are currently none operating in the US. The idea for a Long Island offshore wind farm was first proposed in 1998 by environmental groups. LIPA then conducted two extensive offshore wind studies and subsequently selected FPL Energy through a competitive bidding process to build, own and operate the 140 MW Wind Park consisting of 40 turbines, which would generate enough pollution-free electricity to power 44,000 Long Island homes.

LIPA and FPL filed the permit application in April of 2005 with the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). In August of 2005, the Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service became the lead agency for reviewing such applicants. Commercial operation is expected in 2009.

It is critical that all Long Islanders come and voice their opinions on this historic wind park proposal that will lead us to clean, safe, home-grown energy production on Long Island. Wind Power offers us a substantial and meaningful answer to meeting our energy needs without destroying the planet and degrading our health," said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the environment.

More information about the offshore wind park the WindWorks for LI Coalition and directions to the meeting locations can be found at www.WindWorks4LI.org.