LIHI Certificate # 78 - Springfield Hydroelectric Company's Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project on the Black River, Vermont

Portland, Maine (October 27, 2011) – At their October 27, 2011 meeting the Low Impact Hydropoer Institute’s Governing Board determined that the Slack Dam Hydroelectric Project meets the LIHI Certification Criteria. In reaching its decision to certify the Winooski  Hydroelectric Project, the LIHI’s Governing Board reviewed the application for certification, as well as the Application Reviewer’s report.  The Board’s vote to certify the Winooski Hydroelectric Project was unanimous, and the Board approves certification for the Winooski Hydroelectric Project for five-years with the following  conditions:

• Upon receipt of certification, Springfield Hydroelectric Company (“Springfield”) must initiate a new round of consultation with the USFWS and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Department (collectively, the agencies) to determine whether the current downstream passage at its project is appropriately protective, and to report to LIHI by March 1, 2012 as to whether the agencies have deemed it appropriately protective. If the agencies determine that it is not appropriately protective, Springfield shall provide an agreement has been reached with the agencies providing for either fishway modifications or downstream passage effectiveness testing by Springfield in 2012.

• If downstream effectiveness testing is required, Springfield shall report to LIHI by November 1, 2012 on the results of the testing unless a different date is mutually agreed upon by Springfield and the agencies.

• If results do not show adequate effectiveness to be appropriately protective, Springfield shall also report to LIHI as to whether agreement has been reached on fishway modifications that will be implemented and operational by April 1, 2013.

• LIHI reserves right to suspend certification if the above steps are not completed, if no agreement is reached with the agencies; or if required measures to ensure downstream passage is appropriately protective of the Atlantic salmon resource are not made by April 1, 2013.

The effective certification date for the Winooski Hydroelectric Project is February 28, 2011 and will expire on February 28, 2016.   Any Commenter may submit a letter to the Certification Administrator requesting an appeal within 30 days of the posting of the Certification Decision on the Institute’s Web page.  An appeal request must include specific reasons why the hydropower facility should have failed one or more criteria.  If an individual or organization did not comment on the initial Application Package, they may not file an appeal. During the time the Project is certified, you may market the Winooski  Hydroelectric Project facilities as LIHI certified.