VS NORMANDEAU
ARF ASSOCIATES
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
August 16, 2021
Ms. Deb Chisholm, Waterways Manager Sent via email: chisholmd@nashuanh.gov
City of Nashua
229 Main Street
Nashua, NH 03061
Re: Mine Falls Hydroelectric Facility Licensing and Compliance Services;
Normandeau Associates, Inc. No. 2022-02-018
Dear Ms. Chisholm:
Normandeau Associates, Inc. (“Normandeau”) is pleased to submit this proposed work scope and cost
estimate to the City of Nashua (City) for services related to (1) the continued relicensing efforts for the Mine
Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 3442) and (2) the ongoing exemption amendment process for the facility
upgrade at the Jackson Mills Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 7590). Both Projects are owned by the City of
Nashua and sit on the Nashua River.
Task 1: Mine Falls — Continued Relicensing Support
The City is using the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC or Commission) Traditional Licensing
Process (TLP) for relicensing Mine Falls. The City initiated the relicensing and stakeholder consultation process
by submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) to relicense the Project and a Pre-Application Document (PAD) on July
26, 2018. Following submittal of the PAD, the City contracted Normandeau (along with H.L. Turner) to provide
assistance with the relicensing process. Normandeau assisted the City with the development of a series of
study plans based on the PAD comments and associated study requests provided by the resource agencies.
The final updated study plan was issued by the City on March 17, 2020. During the 2020 field season
Normandeau executed five studies described in the updated study plan:
e Telemetry Study of Upstream and Downstream Migrating Alosines;
e Instream Habitat and Bypass Flow Assessment;
e Rare, Endangered, and Threatened Mussel Survey;
e Water Quality Study; and
e Desktop Impingement-Entrainment Survivability Assessment.
Following completion of the environmental studies, the City filed their Draft License Application (DLA) with
FERC and distributed to stakeholders on March 31, 2021. Following incorporation of comments received in
writing and during an in-person site visit with the resource agencies the City filed their Final License
Application (FLA) with FERC on July 30, 2021.
It is expected that the City will receive a new operating license for the Mine Falls on or around July 31, 2023.
During the interim period between filing of the FLA and FERC issuance of a new license the City will continue to
remain engaged in the relicensing process. The cost provided below (under Task 1) is for Normandeau to
continue to support the City during the relicensing process. Pending comment from FERC on the content of
the FLA, specific tasks identified may include preparation of responses to any Additional Information Requests
Corporate Office: Normandeau Associates, Inc.°25 Nashua Road* Bedford, NH 03110° (603) 472-5191
www. normandeau.com
