WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=_VFeD8_52uA

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: _VFeD8_52uA):
- 00:05:17: Meeting Called To Order: Weather and Maple Sap
- 00:08:04: Chair Report: Hikes, Foot Project, Lake Wyola
- 00:11:25: Public Comment: Newsletter Blurb About Wetland Permitting
- 00:12:00: Review and Vote: Minutes of February 12th Meeting
- 00:12:37: Discussion: Site Visits, Wyola, and Compliance Certificates
- 00:13:43: Land Management Update: Southbrook Bid Awaiting Acceptance
- 00:16:43: Discussion & Vote: Recommending Michael McDuffy
- 00:20:29: Review: Forest Cutting Plan on Pelum Hill Road
- 00:24:54: Review: DCR Forest Cutting Plan off Prescott Road
- 00:30:33: New England Power Company Presentation: E5 F6 Transmission


Part: 1

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F. >> Hey, Scott. >> How are you? >> Good. How are you? >> Good. >> Good. In Shootsberry. >> I am. I just got back from New York.

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>> You're just travel all the time. That's what retirement's all about. >> Absolutely. >> Hi, Mayor. Hi. I'm so sad it got cold again. >> I Oh my gosh.

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>> I was loving the weather. It was just so wonderful. >> I walked out of the gym and I was like, "Oh, I'm not going to put on socks. It's so warm out." And then like an hour later, I was like, "Oh, shoot. It's so I had my winter jacket on

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>> I know. I think I think this morning the same mistake thinking that, hey, this is it. This is this is spring. It's sunny out." And >> and uh I just saw on this the newscast that we could get as much as six inches uh uh early next week. It's like no.

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>> Oh, really? Oh gosh. I mean, I in the in the end, I don't I guess mind cold weather again, but I don't want any more snow. I just don't want to have to deal with it. I was finally able to walk through my backyard to get into the woods today without, you

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know, there were some spots where I sunk down a foot or so, but most of the woods and going into like the main trail, you could walk on it, you know, with going down just a little bit. It was doable. But today was the first day that it was like that. >> Yep.

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>> The cold is pretty good for the uh maple sap though. Too many warm days without and warm nights at the same time. We were getting no flow, but now we got flow again, which is good. >> Oh my god. Yeah, it's it's just going crazy. >> That's good. I have three trees that are

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and I that's I've emptied once the blue bags once. Um, yeah, I think it's going pretty well. Um, all right. It is 7:02 on March 12th, 2026, and I'm calling this

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meeting of the Shbury Conservation Commission to order. Welcome everybody. I think we have a pretty short meeting tonight, so that's great. Um, all right. Comments from the chair.

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Um, there was a hike on March 7th, um, which wasn't the best day, but we still did it. It was one of our monthly hikes. We um hiked uh behind um the parking lot for Lake Wyola. The trails back there, which was new to me.

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I'd never been back there, so that was kind of neat. I think I want to go back when the weather's better and there's no snow. Um so I guess you can get all the way over to um Fisk Pond back there. >> Yep. >> Anyway, it was good. We had

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eight people somewhere around there. Eight to 10 people. Um, and that was good. The next hike, um, which is I think the last of the ones that we have set up is April 12th at 11:00 a.m. and it's Southbrook. So, we'll be meeting in

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the parking lot on Randall Road and doing the Southbrook and I think the weather will be back. >> Um, >> yeah, that's a that's April 12th. Um, and I know um, Bob has got some ideas for hikes. And so what I was thinking,

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Bob, is when we meet with the wreck department to schedule the next three, we kind of do it in in threes. So three months of of hikes, you should come to that meeting and we'll >> Yeah, >> we'll be doing eight. >> Yeah.

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>> Okay, cool. Um, what else? the I presented the foot project at the CPA meeting um and that went well. Um their next meeting is March 23rd which I believe is when we uh

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vote on the CPA applications. So that was good. Um there's the notice of intent from Lake Wyola from two Lake Wyola, the house the the woman that wants to dredge a little inlet next to our house. Um so we're

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waiting to hear from Natural Heritage before scheduling the hearing for that. That's why it's not tonight. Um still haven't heard back. So kind of waiting for the applicant to let us know when they want to um actually officially kind

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of submit. they've submitted, but they decided not to go on a hearing until they heard back from Natural Heritage, and that's fine. Um, and then the only other thing I have is that I don't know if you guys have heard there's a newsletter. They're putting together a Springtown newsletter and

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they're looking for um little blurbs from committees and the the uh draft blurs, I guess, are due next Wednesday. Um, and I was kind of wondering if anybody wanted to just write up a little

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something about um, wetland permitting. I'm too busy. I have so much going on at work, it's beyond control. Um, so it would just be like a paragraph sort of saying this is when you need to call the Conservation Commission. And we have a

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flyer that has that info which I could send to whoever wants to just put together a paragraph. Um, but it would be that kind of a message like, "Hey, we're the Conservation Commission. This is what we do and this is when you should um reach out to us about getting a permit."

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Any takers? >> I I could take a swing at it. >> Awesome. Great. There's info on our web page, too. Like, I think that flyer is on the web page and you'll be able to find

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>> Great. Thank you, Scott. That's awesome. I think it's um next Wednesday and you'd be sending it to um Brennan. Do you know Brennan? He's the um Or you can send it to Matteo, right? Matteo, can Scott send it to you and >> Yep. I'd be happy to move it along.

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>> Great. Awesome. Thank you, Scott. >> You're back. >> Um All right. Next, we have review and vote on the minutes of February 12th. Does anybody have any comments or changes for the Seeing none, >> Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion

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we approve those minutes. >> Great. Second. >> I'll second. >> I'm abstaining because I wasn't here. So, >> Right. All right. Great. Um, roll call. Uh,

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Douglas. >> Hi. >> Huh? Hi. >> And Wilson. Hi. >> I I did hear um I'm just for the future in case we ever need it. Even if you

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weren't at the meeting, you can still vote on it as long as you read the minutes. >> I I do remember that Matteo saying that um uh I didn't have a chance to review the minutes. >> I think we lost Matteo. Oh, no. There

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are Okay. Sorry. Okay. >> Yeah, I think if we're in a desperate situation where we >> don't have a quorum, we can do it that way. >> Okay. >> Um All right. U next we have site visits. Um mayor, have there been any

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site visits? >> Not that I No. >> Yeah. >> Well, we did that one site visit to to Wyola, but I think that you probably covered that at the February 12th meeting. >> Yeah. and we'll talk about it when we actually um

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>> have the hearing for the project also. Um yeah, the only thing I can think of think is um I think Matteo's going to be sending around an email to set up a site visit for 84 Lake Drive because we um got two certificates of compliance for

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that property that we will be doing at our next meeting looking at at our next meeting. So, we'll need to do a site visit >> that what what propert who owns that is that um >> that sure >> it's the it's the estate of John

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Thomasi. >> Oh, okay. >> They found two open orders of conditions. One of which is from like 1984. >> Oh, >> okay. Yeah. So, Matteo, do you know if we have the actual order condition, copies of

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the orders or conditions? >> I I think we do. Um I think that he actually when the attorney sent when first reached out to me, I think that his email had the I can go back and look, but I think it had the copies that he had scanned of the of them, so I can make sure that those get passed along

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with the application as well. >> That'd be great. Um, all right. Land management update. Scott, >> I think the only item would have is um

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we were in the process of awarding the bid for Southbrook and thanks to Matteo for all your work going through reviewing that with town council and um extending the offers. And so I think

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we're still awaiting here to get the final um acceptance of uh we did notify the low bidder and we're still waiting to hear back. Last I knew unless Matteo has an update.

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No, like I said, it's been it's been now 7 days and the last time I was in town hall uh yesterday there was there was nothing from them. Today was the 7-day mark. So, I'll check again in the mail tomorrow morning, but um yeah, 7 days is what we stipulated in the uh invitation

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for bids. >> Yeah, I think it might be worth just giving them a call just to see. I mean, I know it would be nice to say, "Oh, you didn't get it to us by seven days," but I I did

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feel like maybe just reaching out to them and just so that they understood that they were supposed to get it in within seven days and see if they're still interested, I guess. All right. Um,

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all right. Fifth thing on our agenda is um discuss and vote on the recommendation um to the select board for Michael McDuffy. Welcome back, Mike. >> Thanks. Glad to be here again.

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>> Great. And um since you're here, I take it you you are still interested in being on the commission. >> Very much so. >> Excellent. All right. Does anybody have any more questions for Mike? Or does Mike, do you have any um questions for us?

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Looks like Bob has his hand up. Yes, Bob. >> Yeah, Mike, if you could be an animal, any animal, what would you be? >> Probably a moose, I think. >> Excellent choice. >> Just massive, shy. >> That's a good one.

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Um, all right. I don't have any other questions. Um, Mike, any questions for us? Do you like to go by Mike or Michael? How about that question? >> Let's go with Michael. >> Michael. Okay. >> Um, I I have tons of questions, but I

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don't think any that we need to touch on here. Um, yeah. >> Okay. Um, so at this point, we we vote to make a recommendation to the select board. it's it's their final decision. Um but then once they decide and we'll

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just think positively. Um I will reach out to you with a lot of reference material and stuff, things that you can um look through um to learn about what we do and sort of what what your role is as a member of the commission.

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Um but right now we'll vote. I'm so I'm looking for a motion to um vote to recommend Michael to the select board for the select board to appoint to the conservation commission.

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>> I'd like to make a motion to uh um for us to support uh Michael uh as a commissioner for the conservation commission to the select board. >> Second. >> I'll second. >> Great. All right, Douglas.

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>> Hi, >> Con. >> Hi. >> And Fox, >> hi. >> And Wilson, I. Great. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> So, I'll put a letter together and um it's whenever they can get it on their

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agenda. Um we'll I'll let you know about that. >> Cool. Well, that's very exciting. So good to have a full board just so people can, you know, travel and not have to come all the time. Um,

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very exciting. >> Scott, Scott has already left. >> Are you available during the day, um, Michael, or at or in the afternoons or are you >> um, I work from home and, um, so usually I can if I need to, I could dip out

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probably. >> Great. And do you live what part of town? >> I live next to Atkins Reservoir. I'm down on Kettle Hill Road. It's off Mountain Road. >> It's great to have somebody from that area of town.

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>> I was just thinking that we have diversity now. It's good. We do. That's great. >> We're a little late concentrated. >> Yeah. All right. So uh next on um our agenda

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is to discuss a forest cutting plan that we received. So we got two we have two forest cutting plans. Um first one is from Kohl's. The property is on Pelum Hill Road. Did everybody get a chance to look at that um cutting plan

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a little bit? That one is I would just say smaller than the other one. the acreage is is the same about 25 acres um but they're cutting a lot less. It's 125 um cords I guess it is and they're just

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doing cordwood and they have no wetland or stream crossings that they're going to have to do. Um so that one looked pretty straightforward to me. So,

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>> I didn't really see any issues with that. So, >> Beth, do we have a do we have a representative or a forester from from that supporting that application on today? >> Um, >> I don't think so. Do we anyone?

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>> No, we don't. >> Yeah. So, if it if it is our out of our our wetland jurisdiction, is that is that correct? We just review these. Yeah, we don't have any regulatory

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um power with these cutting plans. Um but part of the um cutting or the forestry regulations requires that a copy get sent to the the local conservation commission for review and we're given 10 days or something to u

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make comments that we would send to the the forester because of the DCR and the state forester they're the enforcing agency. So they review the cutting plans they sign off on them. they are the ones who then go and check

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on the actual work that's happening to make sure that it's happening in accordance with the cutting plan. But because there's often wetlands involved, one of the things is that the Congom gets to just make comments on it. Um something else I noticed, was it this

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one or the other one? Maybe it's the other one did say, you know, they're they were going to do it during um frozen soil, which is always a good thing. Um

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yeah, so that's how that works. Um and like I said, I don't really see too many issues with this one considering they're not proposing any wetland or stream crossings. They are using a filter strip,

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a 50-ft filter strip at one part of the so right next to one of the wetlands. So, a filter strip is um you know how streams with us have like a 100 foot buffer zone for forestry

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cutting. There's a 50 foot, you could call it a buffer zone, but within that 50 foot, they're actually still allowed to cut. They're just allowed to cut 50% less than they are outside it. So, that 50- foot filter

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strip is 50% less trees than outside. Um, yeah. And then it and you'll see they they have a choice of doing a 100 foot filter strip if they want to, but most of the time they check off that they're going to do a 50-ft filter strip.

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Um, so anyway, this one I don't I don't have any concerns. I don't know. Does anybody else have any concerns? Yeah, certainly the u long-term objectives that they long the former forest management, enhance wildlife, improve recreational opportunities,

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protect soil and water quality, those are all those are all good things. Um uh so I would be inclined to uh approve. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> Yeah. All right. So, we're looking for a

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motion to um basically not submit any comments on the forest cutting plan from WD Coals for Pelum Hill Road cut. >> It's a move.

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>> All right. Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Douglas. >> Hi. >> Con. >> Hi, >> Fox. Hi. >> And Wilson. Hi. All right. Then the second one

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is from DCR. It's a little bit more complicated. Did folks get a chance to look at it? It's um it is off of So that other one was Palm Hill Road. Like I said, this one is

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right next to um Old Farm Road is what it's called, right? Town Farm Road. Um if you come down Prescott towards 202 and just after the Pulleyville goes off

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to the left, there's Town Farm Road on the right. So you're coming down the hill there. It's so this cut is um on the east side of Town Farm Road and south of Prescott Road. Um and so it's

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DCR DCR land DCR doing the forestry. Um I think it's about the same close in acreage as the other one, but it's a lot more trees. I thought I saw somewhere that it was also Yeah. 20. It's a little less. The

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other one said 25 acres. just says 24.9. Very close. Oh, but that's for the diff that's for one stand. I see. So, the other one was a total of 25 acres, the Kohl's one, and it's just one stand. This has four different stands

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for a total of 50 like 55 acres. So, it's a bigger cut definitely. Um, and then you know these cutting plans, they list the trees, um, the cords for each type of tree. It's quite

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a bit. I can read them off if people are interested. Um, and there are some um there's a wetland crossing proposed where they it's says 32 feet long. This is the one where they say they're going

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to do the wetland crossing. So most of the cut during frozen um frozen soil and frozen dry is the two categories for the soil when they would do it. And then they're going to use um matting. They're going to use the corduroy matting and a

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combination of that and a bridge for the wetland crossing. And they've got filter strips, two different filter strip areas with various various widths. So you've got choices

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are 50 foot, 100 foot or VA for I'm assuming that means various um widths for their filter strip. I was excited to see the component where they build a um a 15 foot tall uh wall

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of slash to contain an area to protect it from uh deer browse. Um I've seen that uh those studies of that done in Pennsylvania and Cornell out in in New York, but this is the first one that I I know of that's taking place in at least

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in our part of Massachusetts. So, I'm excited. >> Yeah, I've never never seen that. That would be fun to go look at. Um, yeah. So again with this one it's much larger which is always sort of

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um but it's CCR like Bob is saying they have some interesting and very you know very well thought out um methods to what they're doing and what their goals are and and um you know I think basically in terms of

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them meeting the regulation they're meeting the regulation and in terms of impacts to what we care about the wet and the streams. They've they're they're proposing um what's appropriate. So, I'm all right with it.

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How about others? Okay. No comment. Then I'll take again a motion to um to not submit any comments regarding this cutting plan, DCR's cutting plan off of Prescott Road.

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>> U Madam Chair, I'd like to make a motion we uh make no comment on the Prescott forestry plan for DCR. >> Second. Second. Okay. Douglas,

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>> hi >> Khan. >> Hi >> Fox. >> Hi. >> And Wilson. Hi. All right. Good. Um. All right. Now, we've got an

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informal discussion with um New England Power Company. National Grid is what I call them. Uh, regarding the improvements to the E5 F6 transmission line. I see Teresa's here. Joe is here. Welcome.

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>> Good evening. Nice to see you again, Beth. We just met yesterday. Just met yesterday. Um, I also have my colleague um, Arasme de Cruz um, with me here today as well. He's also with um, BSC. um just want to familiarize yourself

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with both of us because you might be interacting with either one of us um through the um application process and the review process moving forward. So we have a short presentation that I'd be happy to go over with with the commission um just to give you a

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highlevel introduction to to the project that we will be um filing with you um this summer. >> Great. Sounds good. Thanks for coming. >> Can I and I can share my screen. >> Uh yeah,

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>> just turned it on. >> All right, let me know if that um pops up. >> Looks good. >> All good. Okay, great. I just now have to move some windows around. Okay. Okay. Did it advance? I just want to

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double check. Okay, great. I just got so used to Teams we just switched and now haven't used Zoom for a while. So, two two platforms here, but bear with me. All right. Well, thank you. Thank you guys. Um, so we're just going to start with a little bit of history and location um of where this project is. Um

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so originally um so the project is referred to as the central um to western mass um improvement project and this pertains to um two circuits that we refer to as the E5 and F6 F6 circuits.

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Um so when we talk about the project we'll use that shorthand of the circuits. Um so we often just say E5F F6 ACR project um just for to familiarize you with some of the naming conventions. Um so it was originally constructed in

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the 1900s. Um largely those two circuits um still are being um held on the original lattice uh structures um along the majority of the line. Um so there has been you know maintenance of course over over the years. Um and the lines

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were refurbished in in 2001. Um so the location of the project is is along the existing rideway corridor. Um in total it extends um 67 miles. Um there's several um substations along

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this transmission line. And so there is going to be um some work along tap lines um that's associated with this project. Um within Chutesbury there is a tap but it's like in the existing rightway. So some in some

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locations along along the project we have a tap line that actually extends off um into a smaller right of way connecting um the main line to a substation. Um but in Shrewsbury it's really all kind of contained um within the in the right of way. Um so we span

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there's 17 um municipalities that we will be filing um with notice of intents with. Um so here's the the list um here before you. Um and I I'll show a map to orient you better about you know where

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the the line is located but um we extend you know from Milbury all the way into um Shelurn. and Buckland is the lucky winner that has one work pad that's in Riverfront area. Um so we will be um filing within

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that town as well. So just a little bit about the needs um and benefits of the project. So um the need is to address you know reliability um concerns um for these two circuits to um improve reliability and efficiency um

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and also to support you know future integration of renewable um energy sources um within the area. Um so the scope of work is going um to be located on the main line and and seven tap lines um that were uh listed on the the prior

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slide. Um so this will involve replacing all of the existing lattice structures with monopoles. Um they will be um constructing new access in some locations and improving um existing access. They'll be reconductoring

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um the circuits to support operation in the future at 115 KV. So right now these two these circuits operate at 69 KV. they're designing because um it is you know expected in the period of life of

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these assets they will need to operate at 115 KV. So they're kind future proofing um the the design and the need for that in the future. They're also replacing what's called shield wire which are wires right at the top of the

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transmission structures with two optical ground wires. It's um while while it says ground, they they are located um aerially um on the structures and those provide communication between um

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substations and then they'll also be um doing vegetation management um for safe access um but largely for clearance requirements um for the replacement conductors. So this will be include tree removals along the um edges of the right

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ofway of the corridor um and mowing um within um the corridor itself where it's needed. So in totality across the 67 um miles there's about 241 um acres.

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So this is just a a map an overview of the project. Um so you can see here it starts in in Milbury, Mass. Um this is the Milbury substation. What you see identified in black points along here are the

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different substations. Um some of these stars are uh the tap lines that I mentioned located along here. And then here we are in Shootsbury. So you can see the star identifying the Shootsbury um tap um and

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the substation here. And then we continue all the way up into Shelurn. So a little bit about um project schedule and what has been um occurring

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for this project so far. Um so stake holder outreach um started in in 2023 um and will continue throughout the duration of the project. Um so this is include you know mailed notifications. There is a project website um that is

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available and um all of the submitted um permit applications thus far are available on there as well as additional project information and and a public um and a interactive map. Um we've been conducting various field assessments um

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since 2022. So that include environmental work you know conducting um wetland delineations, vernal pool surveys. We've done wild wildlife habitat evaluations um but also there's been um extensive uh effort for access reviews um cultural

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resource testing and then recently we had filed with the conservation for the geotechnical um phase of the work which is the soil borings um where they went in and and gathered information about the soil to inform the design of the structures.

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Um permitting, we're in the middle of it. Um it began in 2022. Um we're anticipating um having all permitting completed in 2027. And then construction is not anticipated

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to start until the spring of 2029 and it'll continue um into 2033. And that's not to say that during that entire span um there will be active construction along that full length of the right ofway. The work is going to be

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sequenced um based on um outages that they take um between substation locations. Um so it'll they'll hop down the line. Um and so that's why you have that note here, you know, in terms of the specific timeline on when work will

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occur within each communic um community that will be comm community uh communicated prior to the commencement of work when that schedule is is defined. So this is an overview of the permitting process that we're going through right now. Um so the filed uh NEP filed with

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the EFSB in March of 13 um of 2025. Um we're actively undergoing MEPA review. Um so we received our ENF certificate in March of 2025. Um, we've received the certificate on the DEIR in

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January of 2026 and we're in the process of preparing and targeting a a filing of our FIR in July of this of this year. Um, we've been actively coordinating

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with Natural Heritage um before we even started filing NEPA. Um we were meeting with them on a regular basis um to um review minimization measures. Um there are several locations along the

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this line where we have rare species. Um so we will be filing a checklist. Um certainly when we file the NOIs, you know, for in um estimated habitat, they will be receiving a copy of that. Um but we do know we have some locations where we are anticipating the need to obtain a

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CMP. We'll be filing with the core um obtaining coverage under NIPES. Um that's the construction general permit. We will be filing with D for a 401 and individual 401 water quality

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certification. Um we're anticipating filing that in July which the conservation commission will be copied on. Um that request will include a request for a variance um because there's one location along the line that

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is ve in very close to proximity to the quabin. Um and so we will have temporary matting within a wetland that's within 400 ft of the quabin and that is triggering that variance requirement. So just to give a a heads up to the commission when they receive that and

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see that language that's what's um triggering that um requirement. Um and then for the uh notices of intents, we're anticipating filing in June, but that will continue across the municipalities um until March um of next

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year. Um so luckily, Arasme has been amazing and laid out a schedule where we somehow do not have this two filings on the on a hearing on the same night. And we're going to try to stick to that um throughout this. We'll see what we can

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do, but Arasme and I will be the representative. Um, you know, just, uh, kind of tag teaming those schedules as we go along. Um, we're also filing with DCR. Um, so two permits there. We are coordinating with parks and recreation

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um, for construction access permit um, within lands that are in the parks and recreation areas. And then we're also coordinating with the quaban on access permits um and we'll be filing under the uh watersheds protection act um within areas in the in the quman area. And then

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of course we have some areas where we are um crossing state highways. Um so just an overview of um the corridor within uh shootsbury. Um so the

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main line is two two miles long. Um it's primarily you know rural setting um and a forested area. It crosses um conservation land which includes um Amherst watershed um and the Walter Cow's Jones working forest.

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Um so it extends from um the Leverit uh town line to the Shootsbury uh substation. um crosses Pratt Corner Road, San Hill Road, and Dean Brookke um passing through the um Am Amherst wershed area. In total, there's 25

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existing structures that will be replaced. Um and this is just uh clarifying the the tap that was mentioned. It's, you know, 0.02 miles and I can uh show you where that's

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located. It's just right off of the main line of the uh rightway where the substation is located. Um and this serves customers in Shootsbury, Leett, New Salem, and Palm. So in total uh wetlands in the corridor

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that we've identified, we have 12 um that we've delineated off and on right away. Uh we have riverfront area, buffer zone, we have some certified and uncertified vernal pools um and inland bank. And then major waterways that are

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intersecting are Deanbrook and Nursebrook. So this is a a cross-section of the um towers. So you can see this is a picture of the existing lattice towers. And this is a a picture of um the type of

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structure that will they will be replacing those with. Um so this is that steel monopole structure. Um and then this is just showing you um a cross-section. Um so the center line here is going to be shifted just a

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little bit um off center from the existing structures. Here's a cross-section that um was included in the um MEPA filing. Um we've have been this will be included in the NOI filings as well.

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um to provide um an overview of the tree removals that will be conducted. So um on average the right of way is about 125 feet wide and they will be um providing they'll be

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removing trees that are um within that 125 ft width um to provide the clearance for the conductors that are going in. So, this is just showing, you know, along the edge of the corridors, they'll be removing uh trees um canopy where

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they can um just canopy um to provide that clearance requirement. And then just to familiarize um you all with some of the the legends that you will see um for off-right of way. Um so

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in some cases there are um access off right ofway um where it's not they don't have the clearance required to get equipment in. Um and so this is just showing you we have just some different

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categories where um you know anticipating within you know a 30 foot wide um area they'll need to remove trees. Um there's other areas where um it's not a full, you know, not assuming

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that full 30 um foot width of trees will need to be removed um but just selective trees um to in order to navigate equipment in um and other areas where it's really just pruning um that's going to be needed or canopy lifting um in

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order to get equipment in and not damage them. Um and so those are all um provided a different category on the on the mapping. So avoidance and minimization measures that have been um implemented you know the primary one is it's the projects

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using the existing transmission line um and the majority of the work is using um you know historic uh access routes um to get into the right of way. um where access is proposed off right ofway. It's

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um often to avoid you know large wetland resource um area or um because the terrain is very complex and you know keeping access in right of way is is limiting would require um a lot of additional disturbance. Um so a lot of

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constructibility reviews were conducted to to site access. Um and also um you know we worked with them with the designers to to minimize um work pads where where we could um but still allow them to you know have safe work areas

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for construction. Um we also worked with them to you know replace um structures closer to the existing structure or you know move a structure out of a wetland area where they can um within the

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confines of their um design constraints. And there's no permanent stream crossings proposed as part of this project and there's um no permanent wetland crossings proposed. So throughout the project they'll use you know standard BMPPS um soil erosion

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and sediment controls um temporary construction matting um will be used to access um areas where they're working within um BBW um as well as in some um upland um areas as well um and the use

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of the construction matting if those I don't know how familiar the the commission is um with the timber matting but it's um you know to um protect the soil and the rootstock um and but still be able to uh bring in very heavy

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equipment. Um and then post construction, you know, restoration of the wetlands and other sensitive areas um and restoring um the area to preconstruction configurations um to the extent practical.

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Um h within I think part of the slide got cut off. Um but within riverfront area um what I did what is that's trying to say up there is that um post construction would they will be loming and seeding um

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workpad areas um to restore and reveate um areas within um riverfront area. Um so in total in Shootsbury we have um temporary impact to BBW of 32,585

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square ft. Um and then tree removals that will be conducted um within wetlands um we have a total canopy cover conversion um of 8,712 square ft. So that's the the overview. um of the

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project. Um again, you know, we're we're targeting to file these um throughout um Q3 and Q Q4 of this year. Um but the next two things that you will be copied on is the copy of the um FIR when that

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gets submitted and then when we file the 401 um application. So those might come before you um before we file the the NOIs. So, I'll stop sharing um and happy to take

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any preliminary questions. >> Great. Thank you for that presentation. Um I have a couple and it looks like Bob has his hand up too. Um and these are just, you know, kind of overall bigger questions at this point. One is um when you put in the new poles, are they going

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to be on permanent pads or or is it going to be the similar sort of ground surface that's there right now with the lattice structure? >> Um so in terms of the foundations themselves, is that >> Yeah. What is it going to be sitting on? Are you going to have to put in some

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kind of a permanent pad, I guess, is what I was wondering. >> Yeah. not not to support the structures themselves, although um so there's two different types of um structures that will go in. Um one will be supported by

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a concrete um foundation. Um so they they refer to them as concrete case sound foundations. Um and then the other methodology is direct in bed. So that'll just be drilled down in and it's basically underground. there's a culvert

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um that holds uh the structure um in place. >> Okay. >> And then they will be developing work pad areas um and those will be composed of gravel and then you know post construction allowed to reveitate over time.

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>> Okay. Yeah. because you you talked about temporary impact and I was wondering about sort of that the definitions between permanent and temporary in terms of the access roads and and then if there was like any sort of a real concrete pad that would have been more

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of a permanent impact but it sounds like uh not as much permanent impact I guess mostly temporary >> not um not like impervious um impact from you know like a concrete but yes gravel um will be um applied to access

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areas and then work pad areas. >> Okay, >> next really general question is um what is the like lifespan of this? Like when else when would you have to come back and do >> this again? Like this is a one time thing for how many years?

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>> Yeah, I I will have to get back to you on the longevity of the monopoles themselves. Joe, I don't know if you know, but I think it's about like a hundred 100 plus years that the steel is generally good for, but um they still have to come back and maintain

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structures. Um and they'll still be, you know, doing their cyclical vegetation management. So, it doesn't replace that. Um but, you know, in terms of a full structure replacement and um that is not the intent to have to do that moving

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forward, which is why they're designing it to be 115 KV. um so that they don't have to come back at the time that they do then need to increase that voltage and operate at a higher voltage. >> Yeah. Okay. Um

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probably my only um you talked about taking trees down. What about um shrubs? I when I walk the line right now it's um it's you know I don't know the footage of how wide it is and it certainly has trees along the edge but a lot of what's

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grown in there are um you know more like shrub size plants. Are those all going to also get completely cleared or >> So during construction um so anything that's a shrub that's not at a height that's not incompatible you

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know with the line they'll maintain that but during the construction period certainly there will be areas where um they'll mow you know a work pad area um to you know get equipment in there in

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wetland areas They it it really depends. A lot of times they can just put the matting on top and they don't have to do any sort of mowing. And it just it's amazing how quickly those systems

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restore when they're removed. Um so it'll be a combination like you're not going to see like a full-blown edgeto edge, you know, everything mode. Um it's really limited to the work areas. >> Okay. And that's what I was wondering. the whole line like completely cleared

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or just you it's not going to be that. Yeah. >> Um Okay. And then my last question has a little bit to do with our meeting the other day. I'm wondering about notifying property owners. So, you had your whole list of all the the permitting you're going through, but at what point do you

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um notify and maybe you've already started doing this, but like a a private land owner who owns the even owns the right of way area that you're going through and just making sure that they know ahead of time so they can voice their concerns.

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Um, you know, not just thes, not just the towns, but the actual property owners. So, I was confused about that. Yeah. In ter Joe, I don't know if you want to take take that one. >> Yeah, I can jump in. I'm Joe Carol. I work in the project engagement group at

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National Grid. So, we've already been engaging with property owners across the entire line. As um Teresa mentioned, we kicked off our outreach in 2023. So that include notifications to all the project the butters and we've been managing a

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project hotline since the beginning which gives land owners the opportunity to call in ask questions set up meetings. We've presented to 13 of the 16 select boards and that's something that we're going to look to do as we

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continue to move further. We've held some project open houses which again we'll do throughout the span of this project especially as we get closer to construction kicking off in which we invite all the abutters to different locations to come and meet with

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different subject matter experts. So we have a a number of different tools that we're going to utilize and we're certainly open to any feedback from town officials in terms of other potential opportunities to reach land owners. I

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know some towns have, you know, their own community TV station. So, we're looking to utilize that in some cases to even just share the project information, the project website. So, we're open to communicating as often and frequently as

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we can. >> Great. Yeah, she probably doesn't have a TV station. >> We have next >> We can find We'll find another way. We'll find another way to make sure. But yeah, we're we're committed to that and we want to make sure that there's no surprises when, you know, construction

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does begin in a few years. >> Great. Sounds good. Um, that that was it for my questions. Bob, you had your hand up, I think. >> Yes. Thank you. Yeah, I have a disclosure. I have a a a compliment and

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a question. Um, the disclosure is is that uh uh by weird coincidence, Teresa and and my daughter uh uh Teresa's daughter and my daughter play in the same soccer league. And I just wanted to put that in the minutes. I don't see a

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comp uh conflict of interest, but I just wanted to make note of that. Um uh the uh compliment is the uh project is well pointed out on that little walkthrough that we did. Um power lines are much kinder to the environment than roadways.

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So even though there there's a river that's running through an area, they can put a u planning to put a tower here and a tower there. So all that sensitive area just simply has lines that run over it. And each um each of those areas may be reached by side roads which would not

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damage well. So uh initial um responses it is very smart planning is showing. Um and then my ask is um uh generally for large projects like this that span several towns across the state there is

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a mitigation uh budget from the um uh project proponent. And my request would be that uh if possible that that that money be some of that money be spent in the town of Shootsbury because we certainly do have needs for uh mitigation projects.

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>> I will bring that back um to NEP. And um so so far we're still in the process of evaluating um mitigation um could be comprised of a couple different entities. Um we've worked with DCR um to

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provide um find projects to compensate um for the carbon um loss. Um Kestrel Land Trust, I know um they have lands within the areas. um we we would like to work with them as well. Um Mass Ottabon

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is another um entity um you know being evaluated for for contributions. So um we can certainly um add Shootesbury um to the list of you know potential um opportunities as we put that. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> Yeah.

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All right. Anybody else have any any questions? No. Well, um this was great. It sounds like you guys are have a lot of permitting ahead of you. And >> we do. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um sounds like we'll look out for

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the July um LEPA final final FER, right? And and then just we'll keep on top of things. I'm the the web page. I'm going to check out the web page definitely. >> Um,

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and I guess uh one other thought I had was just that people know that I guess the web page is the best place to go for sort of changes in um design plans because as you go through the the permitting there may be changes. to go

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do your your 401 water quality and possibly there's some changes made before um the NOI submitts and going to the web page would be the best place to see the latest and greatest. So when we when we file the FBI that

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will have a comprehensive overview of um changes from the DIR which you will see um right now they're advancing the um design um for access from 75% to 100%. Um and that's draft um because as we

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progress you know through permitting we know you know additional tweaks may be um conducted here and there um but that's what you will find um in that filing. um the way the 401 plans are are going to go um the reason why uh when we

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file the 401 we're going to also start filing the NOIs and that's so by the time we get through that process D will have a final comprehensive plan set that cap encaptures any you know changes that you know occur through our filing

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process with the conservation commission. So there's a strategy there to, you know, make sure that things are are aligned. Um, when we file with the the conservation commissions though, that's where you're going to see more details on the detailed plan for

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sediment and erosion controls on the plan sets itself. Um, which are which had not been incorporated in the plans that you have seen thus far. So, >> okay. >> Plans will probably be more comprehensive um than you know certainly than what's

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been um submitted through the MEPA process so far. >> Oh, okay. >> All right. That all sounds great. Thanks for uh coming. Thanks for answering our questions. Um and we'll keep up keep you know keep

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on top of it as we wait for our NOI. >> Great. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. Good luck. >> Good night. >> All right. Next on the agenda is unanticipated business. I don't have any unanticipated

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business. Anybody? No. All right. Then um I'll take a motion to adjurnn. >> I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn.

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Okay. Second. >> Second. >> All right. >> Douglas, >> I All right, everybody. Have a good night. >> Have a good night. >> Thanks, everyone. Take care.