Letter: Public Comment Deadline Approaching on FirstLight Relicensing
Turners Falls Dam. Photo: Paul Franz / Flckr.com. (CC BY-ND 2.0) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/masstravel/29464169553)
The public has until April 22 to submit comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) on the license applications for the Turners Dam and Northfield Pump Storage Facility – please submit comments!
You can make comments directly on the FERC website here. Connecticut River Conservancy has a useful comment guide here. Western Mass Rights of Nature submitted comments on the applications. They are available here. Please support these comments and add your own.
The Massachusetts State Process on the Relicensing
FirstLight will next apply to the Mass Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a water quality certification under Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act. We want DEP to require much more stringent protections for the Connecticut River as a condition to issuing its certification. Please sign up now with DEP to receive notifications about public participation in the Section 401 process, including public hearings, by using this link.
FirstLight is asking for 50 year licenses. Please help us advocate for the river!
Sarah Matthews
Sarah Matthews is co-founder of Western Mass Rights of Nature