Mt. Washington State Park
Waumbek Station
2007 agreement between Cog Railway and DRED re electric and fiber optic
2011: Mt. Washington wastewater plant analysis. " Data were
available from November 2009 through October 2010. As shown in Table 27, the plant had 41
permit violations based on effluent quality, 24 of which were because the plant exceeded the
nitrate limit of 10 mg/L. Water quality violations were highest in August 2010 with 11
violations, while September and October had the second highest number of violations, with 7
each."
2017: Letter to Coos Commissioners re Cog Snow-Cat road. "The Company's property is in the Steep Slopes and High Elevations Protected
Overlay District. (Section 4.03F.) In the Steep Slopes District, land use and alteration
opportunities are quite limited in order to further the purpose of the District, which is
to regulate certain land use activities in mountain areas in order to
preserve the natural equilibrium of vegetation, geology, slope, soil and
climate in order to reduce danger to public health and safety proposed by
unstable mountain areas, to protect water quality and to preserve mountain
areas for their scenic values and recreational opportunities." (Section
4.03F.l.)"
2018: Mt. Washington sewer interceptor feasibility study. "Underwood Engineers recommends against constructing the proposed sewer interceptor pipeline on the basis of high capital cost. We recommend that wastewater treatment and disposal is maintained at the current location.”
2019: Turner Group, Mt. Washington Yankee Building Assessment
2021, Fall: Harvard Negotiation and Mediation Clinical Program report on Mt. Washington Commission. "Our team highly recommends engaging a facilitator, and we do so for several reasons. First, our other recommendations are more easily, and likely better, implemented with the aid of a
facilitator. A facilitator’s expertise will be helpful as the Commission tackles the process and
relational barriers to master planning. Second, a facilitator, or third-party neutral without a
stake in the outcome, could bring a disinterested perspective, and therefore a sense of
legitimacy, to master planning meetings."
March 4, 2022 Cog Presentation on "Lizzie's Station."
March 23, 2022: From: Stanwood, Sabrina
To: Nichols, William; Tango-Lowy, Torene
Cc: Hackley, Patrick; Stewart, Sarah
Subject: RE: NHB report for Mt Washington Cog proposal; "Bill and Pete,
Thank you for your hard work and moving so quickly to get the tons of information to create and
refine the document lists that you sent to Torene for the Mt. Washington Master plan update. I
appreciate your efforts! Thank you, Sabrina"
Documents referenced in March 23rd email
May 3, 2022; Natural Heritage Bureau report on rare plants, animals and natural communities; "Lizzie's Station"
June 6, 2022 Request to Allen Brooks, MWC attorney for clarification of DNCR's Sovereign Immunity.
July 5, 2022; Jamie Sayen: Annotated Master Plan Draft
August 5, 2022; Jamie Sayen: Elements of an Environmental and Climate Assessment.
August 5, 2022; Jamie Sayen: Who has jurisdiction over the approval of the Lizzie Project?
August 8, 2022: Application for variance for Waumbek Station
August 12, 2022; InDepth NH: Op-Ed: "Cog Railway Proposes Railroad Hotel Near Congested Mt. Washington Summit"
August 15, 2022; Letter to WMNF Supervisor re. "Lizzie's Station."
August 22, 2022; InDepth NH: "State Panel told to protect Mt. Washinton's Fragile Alpine Summit in New Plan"
August 2022, inventory review, buildings. Sherman Adams building: "comments: EXTERIOR THOUROUGH SEAL IN POOR CONDITION. VENTILATION IN FOOD SERVICE KITCHEN STILL INADEQUATE AFTER MODIFICATIONS. REPAIRED/MODIFIED VIEWING WINDOWS ARE BEGINNING TO FOG. EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS OF MT. WASHINGTON SUMMIT REQUIRE AN AGGRESSIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM." Tip-Top House: "Comments: OLDEST BLDG ON SUMMIT BUILT IN 1853. REBUILT AND FURNISHED IN 19TH CENTURY STYLE COMPLETED IN 1988. VERY GOOD CONDITION"
August 2022, inventory review, septic
August 2022, inventory review, kerosene and waste oil tanks
August 2022, inventory review, water
September 21, 2022: *VIDEO* Coos County Planning Board meeting with Earl Duval and Wayne Presby re conceptual plans for "Lizzie's," and Les Otten (The Balsams is permitted (a 2016 ruling) to withdraw 15,000 gallons a minute from the Androscoggin River for snowmaking = 21,600,000 gallons a day.)
October 6, 2022, Final Rare Plant Survey: "NHB’s finding identified that the proposed Lizzie’s Station would eliminate approximately 35,500
ft2 of intact alpine tundra. This excludes the existing railroad line and the associated disturbed areas
on the east side of the tracks. The following findings are based on NHB’s inventory and
observations. State conservation ranks [S1-S5] indicate the relatively rarity of both species and
natural communities. S1 indicates the rarest or most imperiled species and communities, while S5
are the most common and secure:
Natural Communities Observed
The alpine tundra system within the survey area was a mix of two different natural communities,
sedge – rush – heath meadow (S1) and felsenmeer barren (S2).
October 7, 2022, email re Rare Plant Survey
Comments on Mt. Washington State Park Draft Master Plan
"It's important", Bryce said, "for natural resource professionals not to project their own value systems and feelings of being overwhelmed by overcrowded conditions. Research indicates that many visitors are not bothered by crowds as long as there are sufficient bathrooms that [are] clean and well-maintained."
September 15, 2022: "I have confirmed with staff that a UNH study on carrying capacity of Mt. Washington and Mt. Monadnock has not been done." Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
October 24, 2022, InDepth NH; "Who Speaks for Mt. Washington's Fragile Alpine Summit?"
May 14, 2023: Letter to Mt. Washington Commission et. al. re financing for Ecological Assessment.
2023: Proposed Mt. Washington name change
Emails between Agencies and Cog re "Lizzie's Station" proposal
Master Plan Drafts
Mt. Washington Commission Minutes
Other relevant reports:
