DOE Supplement confirms analysis of the Northern Pass draft Environmental Impact Statement
The U.S. Department of Energy has released a Supplement to its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Northern Pass project, finding that our proposed route would have the same or fewer impacts than alternative routes analyzed in the draft EIS that was released in July.
As noted in the Supplement, almost all of the work needed to fully analyze the modified route, identified by DOE as Alternative 7, is already encompassed by the draft EIS. Northern Pass is confident that the modified route and Forward NH Plan represent a balanced approach to meeting the region’s energy needs, while offering unique benefits to New Hampshire. The release of the Supplement to the draft EIS underscores that.
Notable takeaways from the Supplement to the EIS include:
- Potential impacts resulting from Alternative 7 would be similar to or less than impacts disclosed in the draft EIS.
- An adjusted border crossing, three miles of additional buried line in Bethlehem, and new transition stations not previously analyzed would “result in impacts of the same nature as those discussed in the draft EIS.”
- Alternative 7 is projected to create more jobs over the construction period than the Northern Pass’ previously preferred route. The net change in average scenic impact for Alternative 7 is less than the previously preferred route and less than the other partial-underground Alternatives analyzed in the draft EIS.
Northern Pass in August unveiled a modified route that includes an additional 52 miles of underground technology that eliminates the potential for visual impacts in and around the White Mountain National Forest. In addition to the improved route, Northern Pass announced the Forward NH Plan, a comprehensive package of environmental and economic benefits totaling nearly $4 billion in value.
The DOE will hold several public meetings next month to take comment on the draft EIS and the Supplement. It announced it has extended the comment period and will accept comments until January 4th, 2016. The dates and locations are as follows.
- Tuesday, December 15 in Whitefield, NH
- Wednesday, December 16 in Concord, NH
- Thursday, December 17 in Plymouth, NH
For more information about the draft EIS and Supplement visit http://www.northernpasseis.us/
The opportunity for public input is also available as part of the state siting process, now currently underway. Northern Pass submitted its application for a Certificate of Site and Facility with the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee (SEC) in October. The SEC is expected to hold a series of Public Information Sessions early next year.
For more information on the project and how to submit comments to either the DOE or the NH SEC, visit www.northernpass.us.