CONCORD, Mass. – Champlain VT LLC, doing business as TDI New England, is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. in conjunction with constructing a transmission line from Alburgh to Cavendish, Vermont.

The purpose of the proposed project is to deliver renewable power from Canada into Vermont and the markets operated by the New England Independent System Operator (ISO-NE).

Work will consist of placing fill material in and performing work within waters of the U.S. in conjunction with the construction of 154.2 miles of a new 1,000-MV, high-voltage direct current (DC) electric transmission line from the international U.S.- Canada border in Alburgh to Cavendish, Vermont. Approximately 97.3 miles of the line will be installed underwater in Lake Champlain and about 56.9 miles will be installed underground within roadway and railroad rights-of-way (ROW).

This work will temporarily impact about 5.9 acres of waters of the U.S. and permanently impact about 2.5 acres of waters of the U.S. Construction of a new converter station in Ludlow, Vermont, will convert the electric power from DC to alternating current (AC) and will not impact waters of the U.S. The project has been designed such that impacts to wetlands and waterways have been avoided and minimized to the maximum extent practicable while maintaining the project objectives.

To compensate for unavoidable impacts to waters of the U.S. of the proposed project, the applicant proposes to make a payment to the Ducks Unlimited – Vermont In-Lieu Fee Program.

The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which provides for federal regulation of any work in, or affecting navigable waters of the U.S.; and with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice, with more detailed information, can be viewed on the Corps website at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this project proposed by Champlain VT LLC, doing business as TDI New England (File # NAE-2013-2689) should be forwarded no later than Aug. 21, 2015 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Vermont Project Office (ATTN: Michael Adams), 11 Lincoln Street, Room 210, Essex Junction, Vermont 05452. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Michael Adams at 802-872-2893 or by email to michael.s.adams@usace.army.mil.