006b01dd08e1287d587079780950
RE: Bar Mills next steps
- From
- Mark Woodruff <[email protected]>
- To
- Cindy Fanning <[email protected]>
- Dan Yarumian <[email protected]>
- David Field <[email protected]>
- Heath Knight <[email protected]>
- Jamie Marshall <[email protected]>
- jim boutin <[email protected]>
- Mark Blier <[email protected]>
- Paul Mattor <[email protected]>
- Renee Lewis <[email protected]>
- Terry Walters <[email protected]>
- Cc
- Andy Fisk (American Rivers) <[email protected]>
- Date
Greetings,
I reserved the small conference room at the Buxton Town Office for Monday July 6 from 3:30 to 5:00 PM. Please let me know that you will be able to attend. If you prefer to join the meeting by Teams the link is: https://teams.live.com/meet/9388664826544?p=qzDIUgnoRX6ONTX7cH Decommissioning meeting | Microsoft Teams | Meetup-Join.
Topics for discussion:
* General impressions of the license surrender application and decommissioning plan * The Powerhouse and Renee's AI research results * Attorney * Putting the committee's comments together
Have a great 4th of July weekend.
Mark
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, June 26, 2026 12:07 PM To: Cindy Fanning <[email protected]>; Dan Yarumian <[email protected]>; David Field <[email protected]>; Heath Knight <[email protected]>; Jamie Marshall <[email protected]>; 'jim boutin' <[email protected]>; Mark Blier <[email protected]>; Paul Mattor <[email protected]>; Renee Lewis <[email protected]>; Terry Walters <[email protected]> Cc: Andy Fisk (American Rivers) <[email protected]> Subject: Bar Mills next steps
Good morning,
Last night's meeting went well. The highlights for me were the discussions about the new launch not being designed for motorized boats, well mitigation, and best of all the submerged white car.
I think the committee's next step is to put its comments and questions in writing for submission to Brookfield and FERC. I can reserve a meeting room at the Buxton Town Office during the week of July 6 to begin our discussions. Please let me know if you are willing and available that week. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday will probably work best for the Town Office.
As you read the Draft Surrender Application and Decommissioning Plan this advice from Andy Fisk will be helpful. He suggested focusing on the consistencies, inconsistencies, and omissions of the documents; and addressing the plan's generalities by asking when the detailed design plans will be available.
Renee and Jim have suggested seeking legal advice about the powerhouse. Last night I spoke with Steve Heinz from Trout Unlimited about it. He recommended that the towns meet with Scott Sells or Bob Nasdor. Both are attorneys with extensive experience in hydropower relicensing and decommissioning. Scott has a private practice, while Bob is the Northeast Stewardship and Legal Director for American Whitewater. I can contact them if the committee and select boards want more information. I will ask about cost. Steve also mentioned that TU is willing to support the towns' comments on the decommissioning plan in its own submission to FERC.
Lastly, another small victory. Attached is Brookfield's revised Temporary Headpond Variance which now proposes removing the flashboards on or after May 1, 2027, instead of October 1, 2026. The removal is "subject to river conditions and the ability to safely perform the work, and for these boards to remain lowered through the summer of 2027 or until decommissioning removal activities commence." The joint comments submitted by the select boards as well as DEP and DMR made the difference.
Mark Woodruff
207-615-7977