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Council refers New England Power transmission request after public water-quality concerns
Summary
After a public commenter raised water-quality and shoreline-erosion concerns tied to a proposed transmission-line crossing at Quantipag/Copacat Road, the Fall River City Council voted to refer the New England Power request to Public Works and Transportation for further review.
A public comment and subsequent council exchange over the New England Power Company request to install transmission lines at Copacat Road and Quantipag Road prompted the Fall River City Council to refer the matter to the city’s Public Works and Transportation departments for a more detailed review.
Sarah Riley, who identified herself to the council before the regular meeting, told members that the proposed crossing sits over the Copacat River, which she said feeds the city reservoir and supplies up to 19% of drinking water for more than 105,000 people. Riley described repeated shoreline erosion and an increase in public access near the headwaters, and said such use “essentially turn[s] it into a beach on our drinking water supply.” She said she conducts regular cleanups along the Copacat and supplied counts and weight estimates of collected litter to illustrate her concerns.
The council first moved to deny the order granting New England Power permission to work at the crossing but, after discussion, voted to refer the item to Public Works and Transportation so city departments could convene with the utility and residents. Councilors said referral would permit a deeper, technical review and a meeting that could include the utility, public-works staff and residents who raised specific environmental and infrastructure questions.
Councilors and the public asked several substantive questions during the comment period and the public hearing: what monitoring would protect the drinking-water supply during construction, whether the existing culvert at the Copacat River could support heavy equipment, and what long-term policing or management would prevent increased illegal access. No staff report or engineering assessment was presented on the council floor before the referral vote.
The council’s referral means the request will be considered in a more technical forum; no final approval or denial was recorded at the meeting.
Votes and next steps: the motion to refer the New England Power Company order to the committee on Public Works and Transportation carried by voice vote. The council tabled further deliberation for the referral process and directed the appropriate departments to arrange a detailed review and stakeholder meeting.
