New England East-West Solution (NEEWS)

Greater Springfield Reliability Project (GSRP)
Project Description
Construction Updates Summary
Public Involvement -
     Connecticut
Public Involvement -
     Massachusetts
Archived Documents -
     Connecticut
Archived Documents -
     Massachusetts
Contact Info

Interstate Reliability Project (Interstate)

Central Connecticut Reliability Project (Central)

Public Involvement - Massachusetts

Archived Documents

Municipal Consultation Report

Involving the public and municipal leaders is an important part of the siting process. For an electric transmission line project such as the Greater Springfield Reliability Project, we provided information on the proposed project through a Municipal Consultation Report to municipal officials from communities affected by the proposed transmission routes.
Learn more about the siting process and opportunities for you to participate. (97KB)

The Municipal Consultation Report (MCR) was provided to affected Massachusetts towns on June 16, 2008. The MCR provides information concerning the public need, site selection and environmental effects of the proposed project.

Please note that volumes which contain photographs are quite large and may take a considerable amount of time to download if you are using a 28K or 56K modem.

• Cover Letter (264KB)
• Volume 1 (6MB) - Overview (e.g. executive summary, project description, preferred vs. alternate routes, etc.)
• Volume 2 (23MB) - Environmental exhibits (e.g., wetlands, historical and archeological resources, soil characteristics)
• Volume 3 (433KB) - Other exhibits
• Volume 4 TOC (12KB) - Supplemental documents by other agencies
• SD.01 ISO-NE 2008-2017 Forecast Report of Capacity, Energy (585KB)
• SD.02 ISO-NE 2007 Regional System Plan October 18 2007 (931KB)
• SD.03 ISO-NE 2006 Regional System Plan October 26 2006 (1.1MB)
• SD.04 ISO-NE Regional System Plan (RSP 05) ISO Approved (61MB)
• SD.05 ISO-NE SNETR- Reliability Report 1 Need Analysis Jan (475KB)
• SD.06 ISO-NE Planning Proc No. 3 PP-3 Reliability Stds (536KB)
• SD.07 ISO-NE Planning FERC Electric Tariff No. 3 Open Access (275KB)
• SD.08 Northeast Power Coordination CounselDoc A-2 (98KB)
• SD.09 Northeast Power Coord Counsel Doc A-5 Bulk Power Sys (162KB)
• SD.10 New England Energy Alliance Electricity Transmission (334MB)
• SD.11 World Health Org. Electromagnetic Field and Public Health (183KB)
• SD.12 National Institute of Environmental Health Science (6.4MB)
• SD.13 NUSCO Transmission Planning Guideline May 2008 (126KB)
• SD.14 NUSCO Overhead Transmission Line Standards-OTRM 30 May.pdf (891KB)
• SD.15 NUSCO Tighe and Bond Best Management Practices Manual (8.5MB)
• Volume 5 (307KB) - Route maps, design drawings

For current information about the Greater Springfield Reliability Project approval process, go to the Public Involvement page.

Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)

The following documents comprise the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) filed for the Greater Springfield Reliability Project with the MEPA Office on December 30, 2008. This DEIR represents the second of what is typically a 3-step review process by MEPA. The required scope of this DEIR is provided in the Certificate that was issued by the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on August 1, 2008, and is included within Volume 1. Although this Certificate authorized the filing of a Single EIR, WMECO elected to file a Draft EIR instead to ensure that the MEPA Office, participating Agencies and Stakeholders have a comprehensive review of the Project, its potential environmental impacts, and proposed mitigation components. WMECO consulted with the MEPA Office and received its concurrence with the filing of this DEIR. WMECO anticipates that review of this DEIR will result in the issuance of a Certificate requiring preparation of a Final EIR, to be filed during 2009.

• Volume 1: Draft Environmental Impact Report (18MB)
• Volume 2 is comprised of the following Attachments
  • Appendix A: DEIR Distribution List (13KB)
  • Appendix B1: Inventory of Wetlands and Watercourses (22MB)
  • Appendix B2: Wetland & Watercourse Area Mapping (Pages 1-59) (53MB)
  • Appendix B3: Wetland & Watercourse Area Mapping (Pages 60-114) (50MB)
  • Appendix B4: Wetland & Watercourse Area Mapping (Pages 115 - 170) (55MB)
  • Appendix C: Inventory of Vernal Pools (5MB)
  • Appendix D: State-Listed Salamander Surveys  (13MB)
  • Appendix E: Construction Photos (1.7MB)
  • Appendix F: Template of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (389KB)
  • Appendix G: Right-of-Way Vegetation Management Plan (44.MB)
  • Appendix H: Best Practices Management Plan, Construction and Maintenance Environmental Requirements (8.5MB)
• Volume 3: Draft Environmental Impact Report, Aerial Photographs, Typical Cross-Sections and Photo Simulations (18MB)