Transmission Right of Way Reliability

Program (TRRP):
Western Massachusetts

August 18, 2022

 Agenda

Ø Transmission Right of Way Reliability Program (TRRP) Overview

Ø Anticipated Benefits of TRRP

Ø ROW-11 Project Overview

Ø Project Impacts, MEPA Review Thresholds and Permits Required

Ø Agency Interaction and Mitigation

Ø Customary and Expanded Outreach/Opportunities to Participate

Ø MEPA Schedule and Public Comments

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 Transmission Right of Way Reliability Program (TRRP)
Overview

Ø Transmission Right of Way Reliability

Program (TRRP) is a long-term
transmission system reliability and
resiliency program to address more
frequent severe weather events.

Ø Expands the current maintained width

of the right-of-way to the easement
extent (or 100’ from the outside
conductor) to reduce fall in risks.

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Transmission Right of Way Reliability Program (TRRP)
Vegetation Management Zones within Existing Transmission Line
Corridor Right-of-Way

EJ = Income
Anticipated Program Benefits
Enhancing Reliability, Increasing Habitats

Ø Increase reliability and climate

resiliency of the electrical grid by
reducing the overall number of fall
in risks along the corridor.

Ø Expand and sustainably manage

the early successional habitat of our
ROWS which is becoming
increasingly rare due to development,
but which is critical for a variety of
wildlife, including numerous
pollinators and rare and endangered
species.

Ø Reduce potential entries into the

ROW and disturbance to sensitive
resources while making emergency
repairs after storm events.

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ROW-11 Corridor with 1-Mile EJ Buffer
Traversing portions of Northfield, Erving, Wendell, Montague, Leverett,
Shutesbury, Pelham, Amherst, Belchertown, Granby, Ludlow

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ROW-11
Largely Passing Through Rural Areas

EJ = Income

EJ = Income

View from Str.

34025 looking north
into Wendell
ROW-11
Largely Passing Through Rural Areas

View from Str. 34190

looking south into
Amherst

EJ = Minority: 7.8 %
Chinese Speaking

EJ = Minority
MEPA Review Thresholds, Project
Impacts and Permits
MEPA Review
Threshold
11.03(1) – Land
>50 acres of direct alteration to
land à ENF and
Mandatory EIR (Eversource
has submitted an EENF
and requested that an SEIR be
allowed)
11.03(3) – Wetlands
>1 acre of alteration
to BVW à ENF
and Mandatory EIR (Eversource
has submitted an EENF
and requested that an SEIR be
allowed)
11.03(2) – Rare Species
>2 acres disturbance to
designated priority habitat
resulting in a potential Take of a
state-listed species à ENF
Project Impact (revised)
Temporary (construction mats):
• 8.5 ac
Permanent (tree clearing):
• 370.7 ac
Temporary (construction mats):
• 8.0 ac of bordering vegetated
wetland (BVW)
• 0.3 ac of isolated vegetated wetland
(IVW)
• 1.3 ac of Bordering Land Subject to
Flooding (100-yr floodplain)
• 1.9 ac of Riverfront Area (RFA)
Permanent (tree clearing):
• 33 ac of BVW
• 2.0 ac of IVW
• 8.4 ac of BLSF
• 33.7 ac of RFA
Temporary (construction mats):
• 4.3 ac
Permanent (tree clearing):
• 111.6 ac
Permits Required
N/A
Wetlands Protection Act - OOC from each municipal
conservation commission. Anticipated submission is
Fall 2022.
401 Water Quality Certification –Individual Permit
from Massachusetts Department of Environmental
Protection (MassDEP). Anticipated submission is Fall
2022.
Section 404 Clean Water Act - Self Verification
Notification to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Anticipated submission is approximately 1 month prior
to start of work.
Massachusetts Endangered Species Act –
Conservation and Management Permit (CMP) from
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program
(NHESP). Project review checklist and CMP to be
submitted.
Agency Interaction

MASS DEP
Ø DEP Western Regional Office has been contacted to discuss the TRRP
program, and the ROW-11 project and mitigation requirements.
Municipal Conservation Commissions
Ø All the local conservation commissions have been contacted by email
regarding the submitted Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF).
We will be reaching out to further describe the project, summarize impacts
and request feedback on potential mitigation opportunities in each town.
Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP)
Ø Eversource has discussed the project and potential impacts to rare species
with NHESP on multiple occasions.
Ø At this time, it is anticipated that a Conservation & Management Permit
(CMP) will be required.
Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC)
Ø A Project Notification Form (PNF) and cultural due diligence report were
submitted to MHC on May 19, 2022.
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Project Mitigation

Wetland/Water Resources
Ø Best management practices to avoid and minimize impacts
Ø Eversource is soliciting feedback from MassDEP, municipal conservation
commissions, and local environmental land trusts on land preservation
opportunities or culvert/stream enhancements in region to mitigate for
forested wetland and riverfront area conversion.

Rare Species
Ø Minimization and avoidance measures being developed in consultation
with the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP),
including:
• Time-of-year restrictions
• Rare plant surveys and avoidance
• Habitat enhancements
Ø Mitigation measures being developed in consultation with NHESP

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Standard and Enhanced Outreach
Following Established Procedures

Standard TVM Outreach

Ø In accordance with 220 CMR 22.00:
• Minimum 30-day advanced notification by mail to Department of Public
Utilities, Municipal Officials, abutters
• Additional notification to abutters by email or door hanger
Ø Notification includes:
• Description of work, approximate schedule and Project Team contact
information.

EJ Outreach
Ø Pop-up Events – May 13, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at a Community Park located
at 4 Reynold Street, Erving
Ø Door-to-Door Outreach – Within the EJ community in Wendell attempts were made
to contact approximately 20 residents within one-mile of the Project
Ø Additional EJ outreach opportunities being developed

Additional Outreach
Ø Foster partnerships/collaboration with identified community organizations
Ø Site meetings with property owners, if requested
MEPA Schedule

Ø EJ outreach to CBOs initiated March 31, 2022

Ø Submitted Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) to MEPA June 15,
2022
Ø Notice of project published in Environmental Monitor June 24, 2022
Ø MEPA virtual public meeting July 13, 2022 at 6 p.m.
Ø MEPA in person public site visit July 14, 2022 at 10 a.m. (Visited locations in
Wendell, Pelham, Belchertown, and Amherst)
Ø Submitted Supplemental EENF to MEPA August 5, 2022
Ø Written public comments due to MEPA by August 22, 2022
Ø MEPA to issue EENF Certificate with scope for SEIR or DEIR
Public comments should be submitted to Jennifer Hughes, MEPA Analyst
at jennifer.hughes@mass.gov OR MEPA@mass.gov or the Public Comments Portal at
https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/PublicComment/Landing/
Please reference EEA #16570
For More Information

Michael F. Kane, Eversource Community

Relations Specialist
michael.kane@eversource.com
413-530-9000|

Rebecca Weissman,
Environmental Permitting Representative
Rebecca.Weissman@swca.com
508-233-8769

Robert Deptula, Eversource

Environmental Permitting
Robert.Deptula@Eversource.com
860-871-3456

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