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On April 1-April 5, 2019, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is holding a public hearing on Central Maine Power Company's (CMP) (83 Edison Drive, Augusta, Maine 04336, 207-623-3521) proposed New England Clean Energy Connect Project (Proposed Project). On April 2, 2019, only, the hearing will be held jointly with the Land Use Planning Commission (the Commission). The hearing is governed by the Maine Administrative Procedures Act (5 M.R.S. §§ 9051-9064), the Department's Rules Concerning the Processing of Applications and Other Administrative Matters (Chapter 2), the Department's Rules Concerning the Conduct of Licensing Hearings (Chapter 3), and, on April 2, 2019, the Commission's Rules for the Conduct of Public Hearings (Chapter 5).
[font=font36821]PROJECT OVERVIEW:[/font] The Proposed Project is the construction of a new high voltage direct current transmission line that would run from the Maine border with Quebec in Beattie Township to a new converter station in Lewiston. The Proposed Project would cross or traverse three separate P-RR subdistricts in the following townships or plantations: West Forks Plantation and Moxie Gore (Kennebec River crossing site); Beattie Twp., Lowelltown Twp., Skinner Twp., and Merrill Strip Twp. (near Beattie Pond); and Bald Mountain Twp. (near the Appalachian Trail). Other segments of the Proposed Project would be in the following townships and plantations: Appleton Twp., Bradstreet Twp., Concord Twp., Hobbstown Twp., Johnson Mountain Twp., Parlin Pond Twp., and T5 R7 BKP WKR. The Project abuts the boundaries of T5 R6 BKP WKR (Haynestown), The Forks Plantation, and Pleasant Ridge Plantation. Portions of the Proposed Project would also be in the following municipalities: Alna, Anson, Caratunk, Chesterville, Cumberland, Durham, Embden, Farmington, Greene, Industry, Jay, Leeds, Lewiston, Livermore Falls, Moscow, New Gloucester, New Sharon, Pownal, Starks, Whitefield, Wilton, Windsor, Wiscasset, and Woolwich.
[font=font36821]PROJECT APPLICATION & REVIEW CRITERIA:[/font] On September 27, 2017, CMP applied to the Department for permits pursuant to the Natural Resources Protection Act (NRPA, 38 M.R.S. §§ 480-A - 480-JJ) and the Site Location of Development Act (Site Law, 38 M.R.S. §§ 481 - 490). The Department will review the Proposed Project pursuant to the NRPA, the Site Law, and the following Department rules: Chapter 310, Wetlands and Waterbodies Protection, Chapter 315, Assessing and Mitigating Impacts to Existing Scenic and Aesthetic Uses, Chapter 373, Financial and Technical Capacity Standards of the Site Location of Development Act, Chapter 375, No Adverse Environmental Effect Standards of the Site Location of Development Act, and Chapter 335, Significant Wildlife Habitat. Pursuant to 12 M.R.S. § 685-B(1-A)(B-1) the Department may not issue a Site Law permit unless the Commission certifies to the Department that (1) the Proposed Project is an allowed use in any area for which it is proposed that is within the Commission's jurisdiction and (2) that the Proposed Project meets any land use standard established by the Commission that is not considered in the Department's Site Law review. The Commission will review the portions of the Proposed Project within P-RR subdistricts pursuant to subsection 10.23(I)(3)(d) of the Commission's Land Use Districts and Standards, Chapter 10.
[font=font36821]HEARING TOPICS:[/font] Although the Department and Commission will consider all of their respective review criteria when making a decision on the applications for the Proposed Project, the issues on which testimony and evidence will be received at the hearing limited to the following: (1) potential impacts to scenic character and existing uses; (2) potential impacts to wildlife habitat and fisheries; (3) the alternatives analysis; and (4) proposed compensation for impacts and mitigation of impacts.
[font=font36821]TIME & PLACE:[/font]The hearing is from Monday, April 1 through Friday, April 5, 2019, at the University of Maine at Farmington, as specified below. On April 2, 2019, only, the Department will hold the hearing jointly with the Commission. The joint portion of the hearing, including the evening session, will focus on the Commission's review criteria related to potential impacts to scenic character and existing uses and the alternatives analysis. The rest of the hearing is for the Department to receive testimony related to all of the hearing topics listed above.
All locations are on the [font=font36821]University of Maine at Farmington campus[/font] (111 South Street, Farmington, Maine 04938).
Monday, 4/1/2019, North Dining Hall, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (DEP)
Tuesday, 4/2/2019, North Dining Hall, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (DEP & LUPC*)
Tuesday, 4/2/2019, Lincoln Auditorium, 6:00 p.m. - end time to be determined by Presiding Officer (DEP & LUPC)
Wednesday, 4/3/2019, North Dining Hall, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (DEP)
Thursday, 4/4/2019, Lincoln Auditorium, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (DEP)
Thursday, 4/4/2019, Lincoln Auditorium, 6:00 p.m. - end time to be determined by Presiding Officer (DEP)
Friday, 4/5/2019, North Dining Hall, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (DEP)
*The Commission will accept testimony from the parties beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The hearing may be continued after April 5 for reasonable cause and reconvened by the Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer will notify the parties, interested persons, and the public of the time and place of the reconvened hearing in a manner appropriate to ensure that reasonable notice is provided.
PARTICIPATION: The hearing will include both daytime and evening sessions. The daytime sessions will be devoted to receiving evidence from the applicant and those parties granted intervenor status. Members of the public may attend, but not participate in, the daytime sessions. The evening sessions will be devoted to receiving evidence (testimony) from members of the public. Members of the public are invited to offer testimony relevant to the Department's and Commission's hearing topics at the evening sessions. To accommodate the members of the public who wish to speak, the Presiding Officers may limit the amount of time a member of the public may speak. It is anticipated that each member of the public will be allotted three minutes to offer testimony. Members of the public may also submit written comments until the close of the record. The Department's and the Commission's respective hearing records will close sometime after the hearing on a date to be determined in a subsequent procedural order.
[font=font36821]Disabilities[/font] Any person with a disability who plans to attend the hearing and requires specific accommodations should contact the Department in advance so that arrangements can be made. Please contact James Beyer at the Department at 207-446-9026 or at NECEC.DEP@maine.gov.
[font=font36821]FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:[/font] A copy of CMP's applications for the Proposed Project, including Section 25 of the application regarding the Commission's certification, may be viewed at the Department's website https://www.maine.gov/dep/land/projects/necec/index.html or by contacting the Department at NECEC.DEP@maine.gov or Bill Hinkel at the Commission, bill.hinkel@maine.gov or (207) 287-2631. Additional information regarding the Proposed Project is available at https://www.maine.gov/dep/land/projects/necec/index.html and
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/lupc/projects/site_law_certification/slc9.html.
Feb. 26, 2019
