RICHARD BLUMENTHAL

CONNECTICUT

United !Ztates *mate

WASHINGTON, DC 20510

March 16, 2011

Richard Laudenat, Station Manager

Connecticut Hydro
143 West Street
New Milford, Connecticut 06776

Dear Mr. Laudenat:

Rainstorms on March 6 and 7 led to severe flooding in the Naugatuck River Valley, causing
significant damage and displacing many residents from their homes. I personally met with mayors, first
selectmen, and emergency management officials from the towns of Oxford, Monroe, Derby and Shelton,
many of whom expressed deep concerns about the lack of adequate notice from FirstLight Power of its
dramatically increased waterflow from the Stevenson Dam. I also reviewed lake water levels and
waterflow from the Stevenson Dam prior to, and after the rainstorms and have questions about
FirstLight's practices regarding anticipated significant rainfall and flooding.

I am aware that the Stevenson Dam is designed solely as a hydroelectric generating facility and
not as a flood control dam. However, the generation of energy must not outweigh the safety of
communities and security of property. The amount of water released from the Stevenson Dam in a 24
hour period on March 6 and 7 was equal to an average month of waterflow. Clearly, the status quo
operation at the dam during a flood emergency is unsatisfactory.

I would appreciate FirstLight Power's implementation of enhanced notification to town officials

in an effort to mitigate the effects of flooding, increase overall safety of the public and reduce damage
to property below the Stevenson Dam.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) requires FirstLight Power to adopt a flood
notification plan as part of the Lower Housatonic Flood Plan. Local officials indicate that the emergency
notification process starts when the water release level at the Stevenson Dam reaches 20,000 cubic feet
per second (CFS), with the next notification occurring at 61,000 CFS.

With heavy rainfall in the region, local officials received notice that the Stevenson Dam's tainter
gates would be opened to reach 20,000 CFS around 11:00PM on March 6th, at a time in which river
levels were already at 11.08 feet — above designated flood levels and nearly four feet above the normal
river levels. However, in less than eight hours after this action, the water levels reached above 18 feet
with the water release level from the dam around 50,000 CFS.

I would appreciate your response to the following questions:

• Did operators at the Stevenson Dam take into account the recent rainfall and other
environmental conditions including but not limited to snow melt and prior rainfall, before
opening up the dam's tainter gates?
Richard Laudenat, Station Manager
Connecticut Hydro
March 16, 2011

With the water levels at the Stevenson Dam well below normal heights on the night of
March 6, why were normal procedures followed to keep the dam's tainter closed, leading to
a rise in the lake levels preceding the storm?

• What were the dates and approximate times in which the towns in the Lower Housatonic
Flood Plan were provided emergency notification by FirstLight of the conditions occurring at
the dam? Were they notified any time after the initial notification, and if so when?

• From the perspective of FirstLight, were all necessary precautions and procedures taken to
ensure the overall safety of the community?

Should there be adjustments to the emergency notification policy in the Lower Housatonic
Flood Plan as approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission?

Thank you for your consideration, and if you have any questions concerning this letter, please feel
free to contact Rich Kehoe, State Director, or Paul Mounds, Deputy State Director for Outreach, in my
Connecticut Office at 860-258-6940.

Sincerely,

Richard Blumenthal
United States Senator
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL
CONNECTICUT

Unitcd*tatts rSenatc
WASHINGTON, DC 20510

March 16, 2011

The Honorable John Wellinghoff, Chair

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
888 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20426

Dear Chairman Wellinghoff:

Last week, severe rainstorms inundated parts of Connecticut with significant rainfall, resulting in
flooding and substantial damage to businesses and homeowners. Particularly hard-hit were the towns
of Oxford, Monroe, Derby and Shelton which were affected by the flooding of the Housatonic River.
The Stevenson Dam, a hydroelectric facility regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
controls the flow of river water in the Shelton section of the Housatonic River.

Town officials reported to me their concerns and frustration with the lack of adequate notice by the
operators of the Stevenson Dam — FirstLight and its subsidiary, Connecticut Hydro. These officials
indicated that the operation of the dam and notification of the towns is regulated through the Lower
Housatonic Flood Plan. I have written the attached letter to Connecticut Hydro requesting information
regarding their notification and operation procedures immediately preceding and during the significant
rainfall that occurred on March 6 and 7.

I would appreciate your review of this plan and the actions taken by Connecticut Hydro during
this rainfall to ensure that the operator was in compliance with the requirements of the plan. I would
also appreciate any recommendations for changes to this plan to ensure that all appropriate steps are
taken by the operator to minimize the impact of flooding in areas surrounding the Stevenson Dam.

Thank you for your attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Richard Blumenthal
United State Senator