The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is drawing attention with its decision to issue a permit for what's known as "incidental take" related to an infrastructure project in Monroe County, affecting rare species such as the slender glass lizard and various threatened invertebrates. This incidental take permit anticipates the unintentional loss of endangered species during the Q-100 FAA Radio Power Project, though not to a degree that would threaten their survival or recovery at the species level, according to the DNR.
The American Transmission Company's (ATC) agenda is to provide alternating current (AC) power to existing infrastructure along a stretch of approximately 1.33 miles. Work will be executed in two main phases: underground cable installation through horizontal directional drilling or open-cut trenching where the terrain demands, and then aboveground work to upgrade the transmission technology and infrastructure.
Despite potential risks, DNR staff have assessed the project and determined that construction will only cause minimal impact on local species, without significantly affecting their survival. DNR is balancing ecological preservation with technological progress. The proposed power project, while having environmental implications, is deemed essential for regional development and will proceed with measures to reduce its impact on native species.
ATC's plan to upgrade transmission lines highlights the challenge of balancing infrastructure growth with environmental protection. The DNR's decision reflects a practical approach to meeting both human needs and preserving natural habitats. "The DNR concludes that the proposed project is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within the state, the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part of or the habitat that is critical to their existence," the DNR release stated.
