VNRC Helps Safeguard Critical Bear Habitat

November 8, 2005

VNRC successfully halted a plan by Central Vermont Public Service Corporation (CVPS) to build a new utility line through a regionally important black bear travel corridor known as the “Sage Hill Corridor in Stratton and Jamaica. CVPS was seeking as Act 250 permit from the District 2 Environmental Commission to build approximately 4,800 feet of utility line to access a house site in the center of the bear travel corridor.

VNRC joined several other parties including the Stratton Area Citizens Committee and the Windham Regional Planning Commission to oppose the construction of the utility line through the black bear habitat. Both the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Environmental Commission recognize that the travel corridor is of statewide importance and is “distinctly decisive” to the survival of bears that use it.

CVPS argued that its utility line should be allowed on the premise that it would not detrimentally impact the bear habitat. CVPS invoked a controversial loophole passed by the Legislature in 2004 to contend that the impacts of the housing and improvements to be served by the line should be exempt from environmental review. VNRC responded that the utility line itself would bisect and fragment the bear habitat and should be denied.

VNRC and other parties also argued that the utility line would not be in conformance with specific regional and town plan provisions regarding natural areas, fragile areas, and resource lands. The bear habitat is designated as a fragile area and resource lands in the Windham Regional Plan, and as a natural area and scenic ridgeline in the Jamaica Town Plan. The Environmental Commission denied the utility line on the premise that both the Jamaica Town Plan and the Windham Regional Plan instruct against utility development in the Sage Hill Corridor.

In an important decision which makes a strong statement about the value of protecting fragile natural areas as important habitat for wildlife, the District Environmental Commission #2 denied CVPS’s Motion to Alter the decision on October 31, 2005.