Hollis Select Board Transparency Archive

I think I will be available that week for a meeting. Hollis has set some money aside for legal representation if we need it. I would assume that most of our discussion will concern the power house. It would be good to confirm if the turbines need to be removed. Brookfield says no but the DEP staff seemed to indicate that they must go.

On 2026-06-26 12:07 pm, [email protected] wrote: > 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