New Hampshire Association
of Conservation Commissions
SERVING NEW HAMPSHIRE’S COMMUNITIES SINCE 1970
54 Portsmouth Street, Concord, NH 03301 | (603) 224-7867 |
Date:
July 19, 2016
To: Conservation Commission Members affected by Northern Pass proposal
Subject:
Meeting with Counsel for the Public, Peter Roth and Associates
When:
Tuesday, August 9, 6 pm at Conservation Center, 54 Portsmouth
St. Concord
Re:
Northern Pass Proposal before the NH Site Evaluation Committee
(SEC)
From:
Barbara Richter, Executive Director, New
Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions
_______________________________________________________________
As you know,
the Northern Pass transmission line proposal (SEC Docket #2015-06) is
currently
under review by the NH Site Evaluation Committee. This process is governed by
NH RSA 162-H
and Administrative Rules # Site 100- Site 300. RSA 162-H:9 provides for a
Counsel for
the Public with the duty to “represent the public in seeking to protect the quality
of the
environment and in seeking to assure an adequate supply of energy.” Peter Roth
is
currently
the Counsel for the Public.
Mr. Roth has
asked our office to assist him to organize a meeting of conservation commission
members in
affected communities along the proposed route. Given that the proposed
transmission
line would cover 192 miles within the state, the logistics of such a meeting
will
be
cumbersome at best.
proposal, we
do recognize the need for information exchange, especially with the Counsel for
the Public
who is responsible for representing the public interest before the SEC. We have
agreed to
assist him in this effort. Conservation commissions have unique knowledge about
the natural
resources, protections, ordinances and special circumstances within your
communities.
This meeting will provide an opportunity to share this vital information with
Mr. Roth who
will review this information with his experts to better represent the public
interest
before the Site Evaluation Committee.
We will be
able to use meeting space here at the Forest Society’s Conservation Center and
we
realize that
not everyone is able to attend at this time. For those with timing or distance
constraints,
we could work with you to either call or video chat into the meeting.
Please let
me know whether you will be able to attend this
meeting.
Also, since
information is key, could you please provide copies of your town’s conservation
plan,
natural resource inventory or other pertinent reports you have in either
electronic or
hard copy
format directly to me either via e-mail or
hard copies so we may coordinate it and
get the information to Mr. Roth in advance
of the meeting.
_______________________________________________________________NHACC contact info: http://www.nhacc.org/contact/