04/30/2021 CC Minutes

Bethlehem Conservation Commission Meeting

April 30, 2021, 3 pm

Zoom Meeting

Minutes

 

Present: Lindsay Webb, Cheryl Jensen, Linda Moore, Vivian Winterhoff, Margaret Gale

Absent: Nicole McGrath, Alternate Marilyn Johnson

 

Lindsay called the meeting to order at 3:02 pm.

 

Cheryl began the discussion about the Expedited Wetlands Permit Application for Presidential Mountain Resort, LLC (PMR). The members first discussed the role of the Bethlehem Conservation Commission (BCC) in the application process, noting that expedited wetland permits require Conservation Commission signature prior to submission to New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES).  No representative from PMR has reached out to the BCC for this signature.

 

The members then discussed that this area was part of the wetlands reviewed during Northern Pass.  The BCC had hired Elise Lawson and John Severance to examine this area for wetland impacts and submitted a report to the BCC in December 2015.  The report is titled “Assessment of Transmission Line Proposal on Natural Resources within the northern half of Bethlehem, New Hampshire”.  However, it was not known how much impact this current application/project footprint overlaps with that report.  In order to have more time to look into this matter, the BCC would need to reach out to NHDES as soon as possible.

 

Lindsay motioned to contact NHDES to intervene on the PMR Expeditated Wetlands Permit Application and reserve our right to provide comments on the wetland application, Linda seconded, motion passed unanimously.

 

The members then discussed hiring a wetland scientist, preferably Elise Lawson, to help determine if the previous wetland study overlapped with this current application and if the wetland impacts are a concern for the broader wetlands complex.  The members agreed that this needed to happen as soon as possible, as we do not want to slow down the construction project.  If Elise Lawson did not have time to begin working immediately we will look for another wetland scientist.

 

Cheryl motioned to hire a wetland scientist, up to $2,000, to review both the PMR Expedited Wetlands Permit Application and the Report by Elise Lawson and John Severance for overlap and potential wetland concerns.

 

Lindsay will email NHDES and Margaret will reach out to Elise.

 

Cheryl moved to adjourn the meeting at 3:58 pm, Margaret seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned 3:58 pm

Respectfully submitted,

Lindsay Webb