The following are notes as of a 6/9/22 meeting that members of the legislative delegation had with EEA and DEP.

1. Updates from EEA/DEP since last call, especially focused on timing

   1. Timing still appears to be August for the Ready for Environmental Assessment**. EEA/DEP has not heard anything further from FERC that would indicate them moving forward any faster. DEP is lining up what they need, assuming the process will start around then.

   2. There are still negotiations going on re: comprehensive assessment. Those negotiations seem to be productive.

2. MEPA Involvements

   1. MEPA Director Tori Kim is reviewing the previous determination and looking at whether a MEPA filing will be needed. Director Kim was actively looking at it when they spoke earlier in the week. DEP’s impression is that Director Kim would like to have a decision well before the August clock starts.

3. DEP public-facing website on the relicensing

   1. DEP has developed a website with information both about the process and with links to FirstLight’s website for easy access to the information they are required to post. They added a mailing list feature so constituents can elect to receive email updates from DEP on the process. They plan for the website to be live in the next couple of weeks.

4. Public meetings

   1. DEP is contracting with the UMass Donahue Institute to hold public meetings. Donahue will help with the public outreach and with an economic analysis.

   2. There will be four public meetings

      1. An introductory meeting, mainly a presentation of what’s in the application and about the process

      2. A listening session coinciding with the public comment period

      3. A presentation as DEP has processed the application to report back on what their direction is with the 401 WQC

      4. As they’re finalizing it, letting people know what’s in it and why

   3. It’s important that people submit comments during the formal public comment period because this establishes their rights to appeal, even though they’ll continue to have dialogue after that period.

** FERC issues the “Ready for Environmental Assessment (REA)” at which point, FirstLight will submit their application for a 401 Water Quality Certificate (WQC) to DEP, which will then start the one-year clock for DEP to issue the 401 WQC.

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