CONCORD – Opponents of a proposed wind park in Coos County are looking at their federal options to halt the massive project, even as a state hearing begins today on licensing.

Richard A. Roach, senior project manager in the regulatory division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Concord, Mass., said he has received more than a dozen letters from the public regarding Granite Reliable Power LLC's proposal to build a wind electric facility across 15 miles of remote North Country hilltops.

A comment period for the project ended Feb. 27, but Roach said he will still entertain written comments.

"The notice period has closed, but we will consider any comment until the (state) decision is made," he said.

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Roach will decide whether the project requires a lengthy federal environmental impact statement, known as an EIS.

He said he will await the April 6 decision of the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee, which may or may not issue a certificate for site and facility use required for the project. The matter would be moot if the state does not approve it.

John Harrigan, a New Hampshire Sunday News columnist who opposes the project, said he knows of several individuals who have written Roach to voice concern for the environmental damage it could cause.

"Roach is key to this thing," Harrigan said.

Kathlyn Keene of Jefferson, who filed to be an intervenor in the SEC's evaluation process, wrote to UnionLeader.com that "without an EIS and federal permitting procedures, this political disaster will happen."

The project must get state approval to generate the power, but also needs a permit under the federal Clean Water Act to fill about 14 acres of water and wetlands in connection with the development of the 99-megawatt facility.

According to the permit, the plan calls for upgrading 20 miles of gravel logging roads from Dixville to Dummer and creating about 12 miles of new gravel roads to access 33 wind towers.

The towers, themselves 410 feet high with a blinking red light at the top, would produce enough power to meet the annual needs of 40,000 homes in New England.

Army Corps approval would be needed on the project if there would be a discharge of fill material into public waters.

According to an application to the state for a water quality certificate and request to alter wetlands, the project would result in a discharge and might cause permanent altering or temporary impacts to the Androscoggin River, Pontook Reservoir, Pond Brook, Little Dummer Pond, Newell Brook, Phillips Brook, Watkinson Brook, Clear Stream and Cascade Brook.

Some of those are considered cold-water fisheries by the state, and most are Class B water sources.

The state Department of Environmental Services has made its permit contingent on a mitigation plan that would conserve 3,200 acres of high-elevation lands near the project. Also, developers would be required to create eight vernal ponds totaling 3,600 square feet, along with a 620-acre easement.

Roach said the federal environmental assessment is "not a trivial document" and he will be attending today's hearings, which begin at 10 a.m. in Concord.

He said he will also review the proposal with the Environmental Protection Agency and work "expeditiously" to determine whether an EIS is required.

That EIS will determine whether the project would cause too much environmental damage to be approved.

He said he hoped to have a decision in hand before summer.

Those wanting to comment on the project can write to Rich Roach, Army Corps of Engineers, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, Mass., 01742-2751 or e-mail Richard.A.Roach@usace.army.mil.

The New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee will begin two weeks of hearings today at 10 a.m. at 21 S. Fruit St., Concord.