LIHI Certificate # 48 --- ( Androscoggin Hydroelectric Project FERC No.s 2375 and 8277 ) Androscoggin River, Maine

Androscoggin Hydroelectric Project Recieves Low Impact Certification

Portland, Maine (April 8, 2010) - The Application Reviewer for the Androscoggin Hydroelectric Project received from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) information regarding toxic contamination (or lack thereof). This information enables the Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) to issue Low Impact Certification for Verso's Androscoggin Hydroelectric Project with an effective date of September 25, 2009.

Background - At their January 27, 2010 meeting the LIHI Governing Board adopted the Application Reviewer's recommendation that the four Verso facilities be certified to be in compliance with LIHI's criteria. However, certification was conditioned upon a finding by the DEP that 2009 sampled fish in the Otis impoundment and below the Livermore Falls dam do not have elevated levels of contamination or that any elevated levels found are not caused or contributed to by one or more of the four facilities. LIHI's Executive Director has made a determination that this condition has been met by the DEP's study results:

"...there is no significant difference in contaminant levels between fish caught in the Otis impoundment and fish caught in the river below the Livermore Dam, and that the presence of Verso's Riley, Jay, Otis and Livermore Falls dams is not contributing to the issuance of fish consumption advisories on the Androscoggin River." (Letter to Thomas B. Saviello, VERSO from Dana Paul Murch, DEP, April 7, 2010)

The Board's vote to certify the Androscoggin Hydroelectric Project was unanimous. LIHI received no public comments on this application. LIHI certification for five years for the Androscoggin Hydroelectric Project is granted, with the 5-year certification time period beginning on September 25, 2009. The certification of the Androscoggin Hydroelectric Project will expire on September 25, 2014.

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Portland, Maine (September 25, 2009) – The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) announced today that Verso Androscoggin LLC (" Company" or "Applicant") has submitted an Application for LIHI Certification for the Androscoggin Hydropower Project, (Riley/Jay/Livermore FERC No. 2375, and Otis FERC No. 8277) ("Project"). The Applicant is the owner and operator of the Project which is located along the Androscoggin River in the town of Jay, Maine. There is no direct electrical connection from the Facility to the power grid; rather, the Company uses the entire electrical output of the Facility within its pulp and paper mill. Electrical generation from each of the developments is transmitted to the pulp and paper mill via Company-owned transmission lines. In the rare instance that the electrical output of the Facility exceeds the requirement of the pulp and paper mill, the surplus electrical generation can be exported from the mill to the power grid.

The goal of the Project is to provide maximum production of electric power generation, consistent with available water flow in the Androscoggin River and while complying with all conditions of FERC licenses issued in 1998. As part of the license conditions, the Company maintains 6 recreational sites along the Androscoggin. The Project is composed of 4 separate developments which are all operated in run-of-river mode. All upstream impoundments are also operated in run-of-river mode. The Projects four Developments include:

Riley Development

Riley is the most upstream of the Facility's 4 developments, located at river mile 58.0. Riley dam is a 19.2 ft high L-shaped, rock-filled timber crib structure. The dam is topped with 48-inch high flashboards. A triangular forebay discharges to the 6 identical turbines contained in the powerhouse. Turbines are horizontal shaft units, installed in 1982 . The Riley forebay is the source of process water supply to the pulp and paper mill.

Jay Development

The Jay development is at river mile 56.5. Jay dam is totals 893 feet in length and is comprised of 3 non-contiguous sections separated by 2 island area. The 2 outer sections of Jay dam are topped with 32-inch flashboards. Jay has a 320-ft forebay leading to the 32-ft by 147-ft powerhouse. The 6 turbine-generators, installed in the early 1900's, are rated for a total flow of 3,300 cfs and will provide total electrical output of 3.1 MW.

Otis Development

The Otis development is at river mile 54.0. The dam is composed of 2 contiguous spillway sections and topped with 24-inch flashboards. A 95-ft long forebay leads to the powerhouse. The powerhouse contains 2 turbines, each rated for 3,000 cfs at 26 feet of head, and each having generation capability of 5.2 MW. While the Otis dam is over 100 years old, the Otis powerhouse and turbines were constructed in 1984.

Livermore Development

Livermore is at river mile 53.2 and is the furthest downstream development within the Project. The dam is made of 2 contiguous spillway sections, and topped with 28-inch flashboards. A 185-ft wide forebay leads to 2 separate powerhouses:

(1) the original power house containing 8 identical horizontal turbines (early 1900's vintage)with total hydraulic capacity of 3,456 cfs and 8 generators with total generation capability of 7.8 MW; and

(2) a newly (2004) constructed power house and vertical turbine, discharging into the rocky area at the side of the forebay, with hydraulic capacity of 450 cfs and generating capability of 1.0 MW. Gross head available at Livermore is 33.3 feet

Public Comment

We encourage public comments on this application. Specifically, we are interested in knowing whether you think this project meets our LIHI criteria. Review the program and criteria in greater detail and then review the Project's application. Comments that are directly tied to specific LIHI criteria (flows, water quality, fish passage, etc) will be most helpful, but all comments will be considered.

Comments may be submitted to the Institute by e-mail (preferred) at info@lowimpacthydro.org with " Androscoggin Hydropower Project comments" in the subject line; by fax at (206) – 984-3086; or by mail addressed to LIHI, 34 Providence Street, Portland, ME, 04103. Comments must be received at the Institute on or before 5 pm Eastern time on November 25 , 2009 to be considered. All comments will be posted to the web site and the applicant will have an opportunity to respond. Any response will also be posted.

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