EPA Comments on Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage and Turners Falls Hydroelectric Projects

Strategic Insights -

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reviewed the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project and Turners Falls Hydroelectric Project, which are located on the Connecticut River in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. The EPA's comments focus on several environmental impacts, including water quality, erosion, and sediment control, and recommend that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) address these issues in the final EIS. The projects aim to generate electricity from renewable resources and provide reserve capacity and fast ramping to help meet peak demand in the Independent System Operator-New England (ISO-NE) power system.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EPA identified several environmental impact issues that need to be addressed in the final EIS, including water quality impacts, erosion, and sediment control.
  • The EPA recommends that FERC develop a single soil erosion and sediment control plan for both hydropower projects and include specific erosion control methods.
  • The EPA suggests discussing whitewater releases and potential mitigation measures to address associated impacts on shoreline erosion.
  • The EPA recommends that FERC explain the basis for minimum flow requirements and their potential impacts on wildlife and plant species.
  • EPA requests more complete estimation of impingement effects related to increases in water velocities above 3 fps (due to the barrier net) on juvenile American shad and American eel.

Statistics:

  • 1,666.6-megawatt (MW) Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage project is located on the Connecticut River in Franklin County, Massachusetts; Windham County, Vermont; and Cheshire County, New Hampshire.
  • 67,539-MW Turners Falls Project is also located on the Connecticut River, approximately five miles downstream of the Northfield project.
  • 3 fps is noted as the level at which impingement of various species can occur at the facility.

Sources:

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
  • American Rivers
  • CRC (Citizens' Regency Committee)
  • Massachusetts state legislators