TURNERS FALLS — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued a draft decision approving a water quality certification for FirstLight Hydro Generating Co., marking the latest required step in FirstLight’s relicensing process through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

The 117-page draft decision, released Friday, states that MassDEP grants certification for both the Turners Falls Hydroelectric Project and the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project, with conditions. The draft states MassDEP made the decision by reviewing FirstLight’s application as well as information on the administrative record and from the public comment period, and concluded that FirstLight will “reasonably comply” with the conditions for certification.

In a statement, the company expressed its appreciation to MassDEP for advancing the certification process.

“The release of the draft 401 [Water Quality Certification] represents yet another meaningful step in the relicensing of these critical clean energy and energy storage projects, and FirstLight is grateful for the many towns, organizations, agencies and community members who participated in this process thus far,” FirstLight Communications Manager Claire Belanger wrote in an email.

The draft certification provides extensive context about the application, and details the conditions required for FirstLight to operate the Turners Falls and Northfield facilities.

The conditions set by MassDEP come from evaluations of requests by FirstLight in its application, along with the settlement agreements between state and private entities related to flows and fish passage and recreation that have been drafted as part of the FERC relicensing process. Additionally, MassDEP used recommendations and comments from state and federal agencies, along with local organizations and members of the public.

For the Turners Falls Hydroelectric Project, MassDEP is requiring a few key changes, including increased water flow. The concern regarding water flow from the Turners Falls facility and its impact on river flora and fauna was an issue frequently discussed by the public during the Oct. 10, 2024, public comment session in Turners Falls.

The draft water quality certification says the increase in water flow from the Turners Falls facility will be 16 times higher than the current license allows for springtime flows, and 11 to 25 times higher in the early summer. There will be 18 times the current flow allowance for late summer and early fall, and 15 times higher flows in winter.

The draft certification states FirstLight must follow MassDEP’s recommended flow changes to help ease fish passage, protect aquatic resources, and increase spawning habitat for shortnose sturgeon and American shad. There will be flow rate restrictions around Cabot Station to protect sturgeon and downstream flora and fauna, maintain stable flow to protect endangered insects, and mimic natural water flows to assist the habitat from Cabot Station to the Holyoke Dam. Variable flow releases from Station No. 1 and the Turners Falls Dam will support recreational boating and conservation.

Another key element of the certification addresses the movement of fish, their habitats and other species within the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project conditions. These include fish passage with new structures and rehabilitated structures within the Turners Falls Dam. Tests on fish passage must be conducted and reported by FirstLight.

Other conditions included in the appendix of the certification touch on erosion mitigation, stabilization and monitoring; invasive species management; climate change impacts on fish passage; and aquatic organism protection during the Turners Falls power canal drawdown.

A water quality certification from MassDEP is required as part of FirstLight’s relicensing process through FERC for its Connecticut River hydroelectric facilities. FirstLight has operated the Turners Falls dams and Northfield hydro-pump facility under a temporary license since 2018 and is seeking a 50-year license renewal.

Public comment period begins

Since the draft certification was released Friday, the public comment period has begun, allowing for public feedback until Feb. 24. A final decision to issue, deny or waive a certification will be due by April 22.

MassDEP will host a hybrid public hearing for residents to share their comments on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. at the Cohn Family Dining Commons at Greenfield Community College.

Another public hearing offered by the Gill Conservation Commission will be held Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. at Gill Town Hall. The Greenfield-based Connecticut River Conservancy also posted two public engagement opportunities on its website: one on Zoom on Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 6 to 7 p.m. and another in person at its 15 Bank Row office in Greenfield on Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For more information about MassDEP’s 401 Water Quality Certification, to view the full draft decision or to register for the Feb. 19 public hearing, visit mass.gov/info-details/401-wqc-for-the-firstlight-hydroelectric-re-licensing-project.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.