401 WQC for the FirstLight Hydroelectric Re-Licensing Project

Information and updates on MassDEP's 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) for FirstLight's Connecticut River hydroelectric facilities in Turners Falls and Montague and the pumped storage facility in Northfield, Massachusetts.

FirstLight Power (FirstLight) has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to relicense the Connecticut River hydroelectric facilities in Turners Falls and Montague and the pumped storage facility in Northfield under the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. § 797(e). As a part of the federal relicense application filed with FERC, FirstLight must also apply for a 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC) from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).

MassDEP will periodically provide substantive web updates in this section.

• This webpage was updated on February 26, 2025 to reflect the close of the public comment period. This information is in the Public Involvement in 401 WQC Process section.
• This webpage was updated on February 24, 2025 to add a link to the recording of the February 19, 2025 hybrid public hearing on MassDEP's DRAFT WQC. This information is in the Public Involvement in 401 WQC Process section.

More information and updates for FERC Relicensing Process for the above FirstLight facilities can be found on FERC's website: FERC Online - Home Page

Website last updated or checked for necessary updates on February 26, 2025.

FirstLight 401 Water Quality Certification Application

MassDEP will have until April 22, 2025 to issue, deny, or waive a WQC. In the WQC process, MassDEP is obligated to determine whether there is reasonable assurance that the proposed relicensed operations will be conducted in a manner which will not violate Massachusetts Surface Water Quality Standards at 314 CMR 4.00. MassDEP may establish requirements, known as conditions, in a WQC, which FERC then generally incorporates into the FERC relicense.

Below are links to the application and related documents.

Public Involvement in 401 WQC Process

[Note: Stakeholder engagement activities conducted by FERC or FirstLight associated with FERC’s federal relicensing process have been ongoing for several years – see links at the bottom of this page to FERC and FirstLight websites for more detailed information.]

In recognition of the significance and duration of a renewed license for these hydroelectric power facilities there were three scheduled opportunities for public involvement in the WQC process. All public hearings had an online (virtual) component for ease of participation.

1. Public Comment Period and Public Hearings on FirstLight WQC Application
   1. An early opportunity for public involvement in the state’s WQC process occurred shortly after FirstLight filed its WQC application with MassDEP on April 22, 2024. MassDEP opened an official public comment period for written comments and held two virtual Public Hearings (day and evening) for oral comments. Due to heightened public interest in this project, MassDEP extended the comment period beyond the 21 days typically offered for WQC applications to 35 days. 
      1. Public Notice: English | Other Languages
   2. Formal written public comments were accepted until 5:00PM on June 3, 2024. Written public comments received by MassDEP are available below:
      1. Written Public Comments (excluding CRC & FRCOG attachments)
      2. Attachments to public comments submitted by CRC
      3. Attachments to public comments submitted by FRCOG
   3. MassDEP conducted two virtual public hearings to hear oral comments regarding the WQC application. The recordings are available on MassDEP's YouTube channel.
      1. Public Hearing Recording: May 29, 2024 at 1:30PM 
      2. Public Hearing Recording: May 29, 2024 at 7:00PM
      3. Introduction to Section 401 and PowerPoint, presented at the public hearings.
2. Public Information Session
   1. As the second opportunity for public participation, MassDEP held a hybrid public information session at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls and on Zoom. At the public information session, MassDEP presented preliminary information about the WQC and answered questions from the public. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife and Massachusetts Department of Recreation also presented information and took questions.
      1. Information Session Recording: October 10, 2024 at 6:00PM
      2. PowerPoints presented at the information session.
3. Public Comment Period and Hybrid Public Hearing on MassDEP DRAFT WQC 
   1. The third opportunity for public participation was an official public comment period on a DRAFT WQC decision.
      1. MassDEP DRAFT WQC | Public Notice | Other Languages
   2. Formal written public comments were accepted beginning January 24, 2025 until 5:00 p.m. on February 24, 2025.
      1. Written public comments received by MassDEP will be compiled and published on the website.
   3. MassDEP conducted a hybrid public hearing at Greenfield Community College and on Zoom.
      1. Public Hearing Recording: February 19, 2025 at 6:00PM

[Note that failure to submit written comments on the DRAFT WQC before the end of the public comment period may result in the waiver of any right to an adjudicatory hearing unless the claim is based on new substantive issues arising from material changes to the scope or impact of the activity and not apparent at the time of public notice.]

The 401 WQC Process

Below are links to the regulations governing the Massachusetts 401 WQC process and the applicable forms.

About FirstLight Power

Below are links to information about FirstLight Power and their facilities in Massachusetts. Information on these pages include details about hydropower generation and recreational opportunities around the facilities.

In addition, there is a link to public documents that were developed during the relicensing process.  As described on that page:

FirstLight is licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) to operate the Turners Falls Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 1889) and the Northfield Mountain Pumped Storage Project (FERC No. 2485). Both Projects utilize water from the Connecticut River to generate hydroelectric power. The current FERC licenses for both Projects expired on April 30, 2018. FirstLight is currently operating on annual licenses under the terms of the previous license. Every 40-50 years, Licensees are required to relicense their hydroelectric facilities with FERC. FirstLight filed its Amended License Application with FERC on December 4, 2020.

These pages are published by FirstLight Power.

About the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

The Commission's hydropower responsibilities include:

• the issuance of preliminary permits;
• determinations regarding qualifying conduit facilities;
• the issuance of licenses for the construction and operation of new projects;
• the issuance of relicenses for existing projects;
• the investigation and assessment of headwater benefits; and
• the oversight of all ongoing project operations, including dam safety and security inspections, public safety, and environmental monitoring.

While the Commission’s responsibility under the Federal Power Act is to strike an appropriate balance among the many competing developmental and non-developmental (including environmental) interests, several other statutes affect hydropower regulation. These include, but are not limited to, NEPA, the Clean Water Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act.

FERC eLibrary

FERC maintains an eLibrary where documents submitted related to the FirstLight relicensing proposal may be found.

LINK to the FERC eLibray

Use this for a General Search of all projects (not just the Turners Falls Relicensing application) related to FirstLight by typing "FirstLight" into the keyword search box.

Specific links to the collection of FirstLight submittals for the Turners Falls project (Docket # P-1889-092) in the eLibrary, including Agreements-in-Principle, may be found in the Additional Resources below.