Saving the Badger/Ice Age trail from becoming a new High Voltage transmission line corridor

2006-01-22T06:52:00.000-08:00

We (Save the Badger Trail Coalition) thought that it may be a good idea to start a blog so that all members invoved can post comments or concerns regarding American Transmission Company's upcomming high voltage transmission line project that follows the Badger/Ice Age trail. It is also our hope that this blog will provide information to the public and provide feedback to the American Transmission Company, DNR, Public Service Commission, local and state officials. Our goal is simple, to prevent the the destruction of the Badger Trail, Military Ridge Trail, and preserve Wisconsin's trail system.

Would you like to help protect our State Trails?

Email us at: ravenoaksassociation@hotmail.com

Scoutmaster instructs scouts on identifying plantlife along the trail

Update May 17th, 2006 I received a memo from the DNR on the guidelines for tramsmission lines on recreational trails. See story.

http://www.channel3000.com/video/9215454/detail.html?taf=c3k

Check our our online brochure below for more information
Rally information click here

Update Feb. 25th, 2006 The Save the Badger Trail rally had a successful turnout. Around 100 concerned citizens showed their opposition against ATC placing transmission lines on the trail. Our focus has also grown to other state recreation trails such as the Military Ridge Trail. Myself, Rep. Brett Davis, and Mike spoke at the event. The F16 fly over was cancelled, sorry. ATC represenatives attended the rally and heard comments and questions. Our coalition, along with Brett Davis, will be working to clarify the state statue that allows utility companies and the PSC, to regard recreation corridors as viable overhead transmission line sites. State trail must be given more protection that the current statue offers. Stay tuned!

Click here for

******Rally Photos******

Local Cub Scout Pack and familites taking a nature walk down the Badger Trail

Scoutmaster instucting scouts on Badger Trail

Who is the Save the Badger Trail Coalition?

The save the Badger Trail coalition is comprised of concerned families, friends, neighbors, and trail users who will be affected if the American Transmission Company(ATC) Rockdale to West Middleton project is allowed to follow the Badger/Ice Age trail in Oregon, Wisconsin. Most of our members reside near, but is not limited, to their proximity to the new transmission line. This coalition was created, under common principles, to stop ATC from using the Badger/Ice Age trail for their new high voltage tranmission line stretching from Rockdale to West Middleton and to save the Badger/Ice Age trail.
The second utility that ATC has purpose is placing a 138kV transmission line down the trail. This line could be an addition to the 345kV, or a stand alone transmission line. This line would fall under the Montrose-Fitchburg project.

Update 4/16/06: Rep. Brett Davis and Senator Erpenbach have been asked by our coalition to clarify the intent of State Statute 1.12. I feel that it was never the intention of the State Statue to allow a utility company to use a State Recreational Trail as ATC maps show. The Legislative Council has been reviewing this statue since early March. Hopefully a decision will come soon.

Meanwhile, at the Feb. 2006 DNR board meeting, I spoke on behalf of our coalition to raise concers for the Badger and Military Trail to the board members. To the surprise of some board members, the DNR has no real authority to protect their trails. Sec. Hassett agree to open a dialogue between the DNR and the PSC commission about this issue. The outcome of this discussion would be presented at a future board meeting.

As of today, nothing has been resolved. The DNR appears to have a policy set in place regarding the trails, but can not issue that policy until the PSC commission releases their own. According to the PSC lawyer I spoke to, the commission of the PSC must rule on this issue. The PSC lawyer agrees that is not just an issue regarding Dane county trails, but Wisconsins trails. This ruling by the PSC will affect the entire state trail system.

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk sides with preserving State Trails. http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=79745&ntpid=2

WoW!! Look at This

This is a 345kV pole located near Portage, WI. Notice the standard pole next to it. This is not the same pole type, but similiar height. They want this on the Badger Trail???

Update: The John Muir Chapter Sierra Club, Dane County Ice Age Trail Chapter, and the Governor's State Trail council have adapted a position opposing overhead high voltage transmission lines in state trail corridors.

Update: ATC recently gave the NRF, the fundraising arm of the DNR $300,000. We feel this entire deal comprimises our voice. We are outraged by the behavior of both parties

See article http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=72097

Who is ATC (American Transmission Company)

ATC is a for profit corporation that builds transmission lines within our region.

ATC site: http://www.atcllc.com/

Rockdale to West Middleton 345kV high voltage line

There is not a transmission line in Dane County that gets any bigger than this line. This transmission line is a monster. Towers that support the high voltage lines will be 150 feet tall. That as tall as your towns water tower. The trees along the Badger Trail are maybe 60 feet tall at the most, and why would this destroy the trail? Insane. Corridors underneath the 345kV line would be 150 feet. Evey tree within this area must be cleared forever. How can this be allowed in the Badger Trail recreational corridor?
http://www.atcllc.com/documents/Preliminary_Corridors_11x17_093005.pdf

Update 12/29/05: After speaking with a ATC represenetive on the other five possible corridors, it appears that we were misinformed at the Oregon open house. There are only two transmission corridors that they are working on. The Badger/Ice Age trail is one of the possible "legs" of the two.
Update 1/15/06: ATC is now considering three possible routes. A North, central, and a southern route.

Montrose to Fitchburg 138kV high voltage line

Not only is the Badger Trail recreational corridor considered in the 345kV project, it is also a possibility that a 138kV line will be placed down the trail. Again, there is nothing about this transmission line that fits into a family recreational trail.

How BIG is a345kV Transmission line
345kV translates into 345,000 volts. Doesn't mean a lot, does it?
As an example, let's refer to other power lines in Dane County. On an average, the larger power line structures that you see near the road right-of-way are at the most 69kV. Next, we step up to the large 138kV transmission lines, which are typically supported by ugly steel lattice structures and resemble a dead tree. Beyond this, and what we will see along the Badger Ice Age Trail is a 345kV transmission line. Larger capacity in the line translates into larger supporting structures and larger easements where trees and vegetation must be maintained. There are only two locations in Dane county that presently have a 345kV transmission line corridor. One, on the far east side near Rockdale, and the other is a five mile stretch in the Town of Arlington.
The other transmission line ATC has purposed to place on the Badger/Ice Age trail is a 138,000 volt, or 138kV line. These would also require support structures, but smaller than the 345kV structures.

Badger Ice Age Trail

The Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin has a important history that stretches back 15,000 years ago when glaciers formed this area. The area between Belleville and Fitchburg is just a tiny piece in the 1,000 mile National Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin. Verona Wisconsin, a close neighbor to us here in Oregon, lies on the National Ice Age Trail. The Badger/Ice Age trail is a family orientated recreational nature trail set aside from the destruction and development of urban growth. Families can enjoy picturesque scenes of nature while hiking, walking, biking, fishing, and snowmobiling. People throughout the community donate thousands of hours of labor to restore land disturbed, back to its original prairie land. Congressmen, Congresswomen, and Senators all have shown their support and the importance of the Badger/Ice Age trail by appropriating millions of Federal and State dollars for its preservation and expansion.

We can only imagine the enviromental destruction that would go into ATC's construction of the new transmission line corridor. Trees must be cleared, stumps would be bulldozed, piles of brush burned. ATC must also priovide access during the construction process so roadways would need to be bulldozed throughout the trail. And in the future, these acess points must be maintained and kept clear of all vegatation and trees. At this point, ATC has not provided any data showing the width of the final right-of-way through this area.

Concerned Citizens

The Save the Badger Trail Coalition and the surrounding communities are very concerned about ATC's purposal to build a new, massive high voltage transmission line corridor through the Badger State Trail. We also have concerns that a for-profit company would be allowed to place this new transmission line through land preserved, and set aside for family recreational use. We feel that recreational land that has been set aside, should be protected and preserved for future generations. Also, we have concerns about the unknown health risks that childern and other trail user would be exposed to. We have children, young and old, who need to be protected from unknown risks.

We also have concern over what would happen to our property value. We all know that if ATC is allow to run this transmission line through our neighborhood, property values would go down as well as decreasing the chance of selling our houses.

What can I do?

We all apreciate that you have taken time to read over our concerns regarding ATC's new project. We feel that the Badger/Ice Age trail and our enviroment is worth fighting for. The Save the Badger Trail Coalition has been busy sending emails, writing letters, and placing phone calls to anyone who will listen. This list below, as well as our membership is growing every day. New contacts made by you will be added to the list. Please express your concerns to the persons listed in our contact list below. Also, please forward our page to friends who may have similiar concerns and encourage them to do the same. Feel free to write a comment below and show your support for the Save the Badger Trail Coalition. Afterall, the more we express our concerns, the better they will listen.

Contact List

It is of great importance that you express your concernes to ATC, PSC, as well as your state represenetive.

1. Kathleen Falk- Dane County Executive http://www.countyofdane.com/exec/

2. Tammy Baldwin-Congresswoman http://tammybaldwin.house.gov/ Tammy Baldwin has very close ties with the Ice Age Trail and has proven she cares about preserving it.

3. Charles Gonzales- Local relations and employee of ATC cgonzales@atcllc.com

Your letter to him will be filed on record and forewarded to the PSC.

4. Sarah Justus- Local relations and employee of ATC sjustus@atcllc.com

Sarah Justus
American Transmission Company
2 Fen Oak Court
Madison, Wi 53718

5. Public Service Commission- Linda Barth Linda.Barth@psc.state.wi.us

Scot Cullen scot.cullen@psc.state.wi.us

PSC website http://psc.wi.gov/

6. Town of Oregon townoforegon@mailbag.com http://www.town.oregon.wi.us/

7. Jon Erpenbach- Represents the 27th district in the state senate. Sen.Erpenbach@legis.state.wi.us

8. Brett Davis- Assembly District 80 rep.davis@legis.state.wi.us

Mr. Davis is also a resident of Ravenoaks

9. Ice Age Trail Foundation info@iceagetrail.org Website http://www.iceagetrail.org/contact.html

Andrew Hanson III, Trailway Director

2453 Atwood Avenue, Suite 207

Madison, WI 53704

10 Dana White Quam-

Mrs. White Quam is the DNR official working on the Badger Trail master plan.

11. Wisconsin John Muir Chapter Seirra Club

John Muir Chapter Sierra Club

222 S. Hamilton St. #1

Madison, WI 53703-3201

Remember, this is a working list. Any additional contact can be added. I have also contacted channel 27, and channel 3 via their website. It would help it others did the same.

Calendar of Important Events

1. Spring of 2006- ATC will announce their final corridors. ATC will then present their options to the PSC.

2. December 28th 6:30pm Meeting with Assemblyman Bret Davis at my house. He wishes to hear our concerns.

3. January 11, 7:00pm. Association meeting.

4. Speaking engagement with the Dane Country Envoromental Smart Growth Coalition.

5. Feb. 25th 2006 1:00pm. Save the Badger Trail Family Walk . Show your support the Badger Trail and help save the Badger Trail from becomming a new high voltage transmission line corridor.

Exercise Your Right

We need everyones help in stopping ATC from building a new transmission line on the Badger State Trail. There are other options that ATC should consider before the Badger/Ice Age trail. Why should we allow ATC to destroy forests, natural prairie land, nature trails, and jepordize our health. We all need to exercise our right by calling, writing letters, or whatever means it takes to make our opinions loud and clear. Remember, no one wants this in their back yard and we must be louder than anyone else.

Interesting Facts about the Badger and Ice Age Trail

1. Did you know that a portion of the trail near Belleville is considered prairie land and has endanger plant species growing there.

2. Upon completion of the Badger trail, you would be able to bike from Madison into Illinois without leaving the trail.

3. DNR estimates that annually, the Badger Trail will attract between 100,000 to 175,000 users.

4. The Ice Age Trail has been featured in the National Geographic and Backpacker Magazine.

5. 18 millions American live within 100 miles of the 1,000 mile long Ice Age trail.

6. The Exeter tunnel near Belleville is the highlight of the trail. The tunnel is nearly a quarter of a mile long.

7. The trail will connect with numerous other bike trails including the Madison trail system, the Sugar River State Trail, the Capital City Trail, The Military Ridge Trail, the Cheese Country Trail and the Pecatonica Trail.

8. Bicycle tourism is an important, and growing tourism industry in Wisconsin.

Ravenoaks Association in the news

1. Capital Times Article http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=tct:2006:01:03:539910:METRO

2. Channel 3 story http://www.channel3000.com/news/5870253/detail.html

Atricles of Interest

1. EMF Electric and Magnetic Fields and health risks associated with transmission lines

http://www.mcw.edu/gcrc/cop/powerlines-cancer-FAQ/toc.html

http://www.arrowhead-weston.com/emf.shtml?leftnavid=environment

2. ATC Arrowhead-Weston Wisconsin Project

http://www.cleanwisconsin.org/campaigns/arrowhead_weston_wetlands.html

3. DNRs master plan of the Badger Trail http://dnr.wi.gov/master_planning/badgertrail/Badger_Trail_master_plan_draft_Oct_05.pdf

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