Hundreds of residents, environmental groups urge MassDEP to deny or tighten draft 401 certification for FirstLight’s Northfield Mountain project

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on Feb. 19 held a hybrid public hearing at Greenfield Community College on its draft Section 401 water quality certification for FirstLight’s Northfield Mountain pumped‑storage project. Dozens of residents, municipal officials, conservation groups, tribal representatives and state lawmakers urged DEP to deny the draft certificate or impose much stronger conditions to protect aquatic life, riverbanks and cultural resources.

Many speakers told DEP staff that the plant’s routine reverse‑flow operations and turbine mortality harm fish, invertebrates and river habitat and that the draft certification does not show the projects will bring impaired reaches of the Connecticut River into compliance with Massachusetts surface water quality standards. "If you grant the certificate for 50 years, they will continue to harm the river," said Dennis Carr, a member of the Covington planning board.

The objections covered several recurring themes: turbine mortality and the narrow measurement of "water quality," the adequacy and timing of required fish‑passage and barrier‑net installations, bank erosion tied to frequent reservoir drawdowns, lack of meaningful public oversight of monitoring plans, and exclusion of Indigenous knowledge from the 401 process. "You're defining water quality too narrowly if you leave out river life," said John Thompson of the Connecticut River Defenders.

Why it matters: The 401 certification is a state decision under the Clean Water Act that can approve, deny or condition a federal hydropower license. Commenters said the certificate will determine whether the Connecticut River above and below Turners Falls Dam remains listed as impaired or steps toward attainment. Senator Joseph…