Comments of John Hinton 03-13-2024

First Light FERC.docx

To: FERC From: John Sinton, Florence, MA

Re.: Relicensing of Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Facility and Turners Falls Dam

My name is John Sinton of Florence, Massachusetts. For twenty-five years, I have been an active and now honorary member of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Conservancy (formerly the Watershed Council). I co-authored The Connecticut River Boating Guide, Source to Sea, published in 2008 and have been an advocate for the river since the year 2000. I have witnessed and participated in all the activities of the Connecticut River Conservancy including consistent efforts to increase migratory fish habitat and recreational opportunities.

I appreciate the efforts of First Light Power to expand recreational facilities and access. I applaud these initiatives, and only hope that there will be further improvements to help paddlers portage their boats.

Furthermore, summer minimum flows need to provide sufficient water for both fish and paddlers.

For decades, First Light Power has notoriously resisted improvements in fish passage and river habitat. First Light’s offer to synchronize hydro flows with fish passage and improved aquatic life are delayed well beyond a sensible time frame – another decade before new fish passage infrastructure? Insufficient flows to nourish juvenile fish and eggs? No invasive species management? Refusal to include CRC in recreation discussions unless they agree to First Light’s conditions?

It is long past time to require that First Light take responsibility as a publicly licensed company to ensure the public interest, and that includes the interests of the river’s biota. I urge the FERC to withhold relicensing until First Light agrees to improve its operations as requested by such organizations as CRC, AMC, and American Rivers.

Thank you for your time, John Sinton

124 Willow St.

Florence, MA 01062