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Home , Baboosic Brook, Cohas Brook, Contoocook River, Fowler River, Gridley River, Lake Waukewan

The State of Department of Environmental Services

Robert R. Scott Commissioner

December 13, 2019

Dennis Deziel, Regional Administrator EPA New England, Region 1 5 Post Office Square - Suite 100 Boston, MA 02109-3912

Re: Request for approval of amendments to New Hampshire Surface Water Quality Standards

Dear Mr. Deziel:

On January 20, 2018, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) made a 1 request to EPA to approve adopted amendments to the state's surface water quality standards • One of those amendments, regarding the dissolved oxygen (DO) saturation standard, was precipitated by a change in state law. Senate Bill (SB)127, effective September 8, 2017, amended State statutes (RSA 485-A:2, A:6 and A:8) regarding dissolved oxygen standards. NHDES submitted a request to EPA to add this amended statute to our approved state surface water quality standards per the requirements of 40 CFR § 131.6 and § 131.20(c ). This letter is to withdraw that request.

Since submitting our request, NHDES and EPA Region 1 have been in detailed communication. A request for more information was sent by EPA to the state on July 3, 2019. NHDES responded to this letter on October 23, 2019, to which EPA replied on November 7, 2019. At the same time, NHDES has been in close communication with stakeholders and legislators regarding this issue. What is clear from all of these communications is that the issue of changing the DO saturation standard is much more complicated than originally thought.

To this end, NHDES is working with the legislature to add more flexibility to the state's ability to set surface water quality standards for dissolved oxygen. House Bill 496 (as amended) was voted out of the NH Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee by unanimous vote on November 21, 2019. This bill will be taken up by the full legislature in January 2020. The bill would give NHDES the flexibility to modify surface water quality standards to address stakeholder concerns while, at the same time, addressing the issues raised by EPA with the current request.

Therefore, NHDES respectfully withdraws our request for EPA approval of the amendment to the New Hampshire Surface Water Quality Standards relative to dissolved oxygen saturation per 40 CFR § 131.5. NHDES will revisit the issue of dissolved oxygen and may resubmit a new request for amendment at a later date.

1 On June 25, 1999, NHDES submitted documents required to satisfy the Clean Water Act Water Quality Standards docket. The submission included RSA 485-A: 1 through A:4, RSA 485-A:8 and RSA 485-A: 11, a list of Class A waters and surface water quality regulations (which were titled Env-Ws 430 in 1999 but are now titled Env-Wq 1700). On July 1, 1999, EPA acknowledged that the June 25, 1999 submittal was "complete and current". www.des.nh.gov 29 Hazen Drive• PO Box 95 • Concord, NH 03302-0095

(603) 271-3503 • TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964 December 13, 2019 Page 2 of 7

Related to the change in statute in SB 127, NHDES also removed impairments for dissolved oxygen saturation as part of our submission to EPA in 2018 in fulfilment of Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act. On August 8, 2019, NHDES submitted its 303(d) list to EPA for approval. As described in the document entitled, "Impairments Removed (i.e. Delisted) from the 2018 303(d) List of Threatened or Impaired Waters (i.e. Category 5)", NHDES proposed to change the status of a number of assessment units from Category 5 to Category 3-PNS (or 3-ND) for dissolved oxygen saturation that supports aquatic life use. The list of assessment units is attached to this letter.

NHDES now respectfully requests that EPA remove these impairment removals from further consideration at this time. We will forward via email an updated 303d spreadsheet which will reflect this modification.

The 2018 Section 305(b) and 303( d) Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (CALM) describes in detail how surface water quality assessment decisions were made in fulfillment of 40 CFR 130.7(b)(6). The CALM will be changed for 2020 to reflect the above request and status of the DO saturation criteria at the time that the 2020 list is generated.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (603) 271-0677 or tbomas.o·don van t, ,de .. nh.g , or Ted Diers at (603) 271-3289 or led.dier @d .11h.g,ov.

Sincerely --~~- ~~=--~ Director, Water Division cc ( electronically distributed): Ken Moraff, EPA Ted Diers, NH DES Mel Cote, EPA Gregg Comstock, NH DES Ken Edwardson, NHDES Ralph Abele, EPA Allen Brooks, NH DOJ December 13, 2019 Page 3 of7

2018 - IMPAIRMENTS REMOVED DUE TO STATUTE CHANGES In 2017, S8127 amended three sections of RSA 485 with regards to dissolved oxygen water quality criteria. As a result of these changes to RSA 485-A:6, XIV, NHDES assigned the following dissolved oxygen saturation determinations to Category 3.

Town(s) - Primary Town Assessment Unit Name Assessment Unit ID 2016 2018 Listed First COLD BROOK - MILL BROOK NHIMP600020901-03 FREEDOM 5-P 3-PNS COCH ECO - CITY DAM 1 NHIMP600030603-01 ROCHESTER 5-M 3-PAS NHIMP600030708-03 NEWMARKET 5-M 3-PAS OYSTER RIVER - MILL POND DAM NH IM P600030902-04 DURHAM 5-M 3-PNS BEARDS CREEK NHIMP600030902-06 DURHAM 5-M 3-PAS CAINS BROOK - NOYES POND NH IM P600031004-06 SEABROOK 5-P 3-PNS KNOWLES POND - TR WILLIAMS BROOK NH IM P700020203-01 NORTHFIELD 5-M 3-PNS DAM NH IM P700030101-02 JAFFREY 5-P 3-PNS CONTOOCOOK RIVER NHIMP700030101-03 JAFFREY 5-M 3-PAS - GOLDMAN DAM NH IM P700060906-07 MILFORD 5-M 3-PNS - MINE FALLS DAM POND NHIMP700040402-02 NASHUA 5-P 3-PNS - NHIMP700061403-04 KINGSTON, EAST 5-P 3-PAS KINGSTON, NEWTON DAM POND NHIMP802010301-02 KEENE 5-P 3-PNS MIDDLE PEA PORRIDGE POND NH LAK600020303-06 MADISON 5-M 3-PAS BEARCAMP POND NH LAK600020601-01-01 SANDWICH 5-M 3-PNS LEAVITT BAY NHLAK600020804-01-02 OSSIPEE, EFFINGHAM, 5-M 3-PAS FREEDOM WILLAND POND NH LAK600030405-03 SOMERSWORTH, DOVER 5-M 3-PNS BAXTER LAKE NHLAK600030602-01 FARMINGTON, ROCHESTER 5-M 3-PAS FRESH CREEK POND NH LAK600030608-01 DOVER, ROLLINSFORD 5-M 3-PNS ONWAY LAKE NH LAK600030703-03-01 RAYMOND 5-M 3-PNS COLCORD POND N HLAK600030804-01 EXETER 5-M 3-PNS SWAINS LAKE NH LAK600030903-03 BARRINGTON 5-M 3-PNS EEL POND NHLAK600031002-01 RYE 5-P 3-PNS TAYLOR RIVER REFUGE POND NHLAK600031003-02 HAMPTON, HAMPTON 5-M 3-PNS FALLS NH LAK700010501-04-01 HOLDERNESS, CENTER 5-M 3-PNS HARBOR, MOULTONBOROUGH, SANDWICH NHLAK700010501-05 HOLDERNESS 5-M 3-PNS NHLAK700010502-01-01 HOLDERNESS, ASHLAND 5-M 3-PNS WAUKEENA LAKE NH LAK700010701-05 DANBURY 5-M 3-PNS NHLAK700020101-05-01 WOLFEBORO 5-M 3-PNS GARLAND POND NHLAK700020103-03 MOULTONBOROUGH 5-M 3-PNS NHLAK700020108-02-01 MEREDITH, CENTER 5-M 3-PNS HARBOR, NEW HAMPTON LAKE WINONA NH LAK700020108-02-02 CENTER HARBOR, NEW 5-M 3-PNS HAMPTON INLET TO THROUGH SOUTH NH LAK700020110-06 LACONIA 5-M 3-PNS December 13, 2019 Page 4 of 7

Town(s) - Primary Town Assessment Unit Name Assessment Unit ID 2016 2018 Listed First DOWN WICWAS LAKE N HLAK700020201-04 MEREDITH 5-M 3-PAS CHESHIRE POND NH LAK700030101-02 JAFFREY 5-M 3-PNS POOLPOND NHLAK700030101-12 RINDGE 5-M 3-PNS NH LAK700030107-03 HANCOCK, BENNINGTON, 5-M 3-PNS GREENFIELD HALFMOON POND NH LAK700030201-02 WASHINGTON 5-M 3-PNS HIGHLAND LAKE NH LAK700030201-03 STODDARD, WASHINGTON 5-M 3-PNS ISLAND POND NHLAK700030202-02-01 STODDARD 5-M 3-PNS KEZAR LAKE N HLAK700030303-03-01 SUTTON 5-M 3-PNS PLEASANT LAKE NHLAK700030402-02-01 NEW LONDON 5-M 3-PNS ADDER POND NH LAK700030403-01 ANDOVER 5-M 3-PNS BRADLEY LAKE NHLAK700030403-02 ANDOVER 5-M 3-PNS WALKER POND NH LAK700030506-02 BOSCAWEN, WEBSTER 5-M 3-PNS MELENDY POND NH LAK700040401-01-01 BROOKLINE 5-M 3-PNS POTANIPO POND NHLAK700040401-02-01 BROOKLINE 5-M 3-PAS LYFORD POND NHLAK700060201-02 CANTERBURY 5-M 3-PNS NEW POND NHLAK700060201-03 CANTERBURY 5-M 3-PNS TUREE POND NH LAK700060301-01 BOW 5-M 3-PNS KIMBALL POND NHLAK700060302-06 CANTERBURY 5-M 3-PNS HILLS POND NHLAK700060401-04 ALTON 5-M 3-PNS HALFMOON LAKE NHLAK700060402-03 ALTON, BARNSTEAD 5-M 3-PNS LONG POND NH LAK700060502-07 NORTHWOOD 5-M 3-PNS PLEASANT LAKE N HLAK700060502-09-01 DEERFIELD, NORTHWOOD 5-M 3-PNS NHLAK700060601-01 DEERING 5-M 3-PAS MASSABESIC LAKE NH LAK700060702-03 AUBURN, MANCHESTER 5-M 3-PNS CRYSTAL LAKE NHLAK700060703-02-01 MANCHESTER 5-M 3-PAS HOLT POND NHLAK700061001-06 MERRIMACK, NASHUA 5-M 3-PNS NHLAK700061102-02 WINDHAM, SALEM 5-M 3-PNS CAPTAIN POND NHLAK700061102-03-01 SALEM 5-M 3-PNS SEAVEY POND NHLAK700061102-08 WINDHAM 5-M 3-PNS KENDALL POND NH LAK700061203-04 LONDONDERRY 5-M 3-PNS RAINBOW LAKE N HLAK700061203-05 DERRY 5-M 3-PNS LONG POND NHLAK700061205-02-01 PELHAM 5-M 3-PNS OTTERNICK POND NHLAK700061206-02 HUDSON 5-M 3-PNS GREAT POND NH LAK700061403-06-01 KINGSTON 5-M 3-PNS NHLAK700061403-10 SOUTH HAMPTON 5-P 3-PNS MOORE RESERVOIR NHLAK801030202-01 LITTLETON, DAL TON 5-M 3-PNS ROUND POND NHLAK801030502-04 LYMAN 5-M 3-PNS LOWER MOUNTAIN LAKE NH LAK801030505-03 HAVERHILL 5-M 3-PNS MASCOMA LAKE NH LAK801060105-04-01 ENFIELD, LEBANON 5-M 3-PNS STOCKER POND NHLAK801060401-02 GRANTHAM 5-M 3-PNS BAPTIST POND NHLAK801060402-02 SPRINGFIELD 5-M 3-PNS LITTLE SUNAPEE LAKE NHLAK801060402-04-01 NEW LONDON, 5-M 3-PNS SPRINGFIELD SUNAPEE LAKE NHLAK801060402-05-01 SUNAPEE, NEW LONDON, 5-M 3-PNS NEWBURY December 13, 2019 Page 5 of 7

Town(s) - Primary Town Assessment Unit Name Assessment Unit ID 2016 2018 Listed First ROCKYBOUND POND NH LAK801060404-01 CROYDON 5-M 3-PNS SPOFFORD LAKE NH LAK801070503-01-01 CHESTERFIELD 5-M 3-PNS MILLEN POND NHLAK802010101-06-01 WASHINGTON 5-M 3-PNS CHAPMAN POND NHLAK802010201-04 SULLIVAN 5-M 3-PNS RUSSELL RESERVOIR NHLAK802010202-07 HARRISVILLE 5-M 3-PNS MEETINGHOUSE POND NH LAK802010303-02 MARLBOROUGH 5-M 3-PNS WILSON POND NH LAK802010303-10 SWANZEY 5-M 3-PNS NH RIV400020103-06 SHELBURNE 5-M 3-PAS RED BROOK NHRIV600020802-05 EFFINGHAM, OSSIPEE 5-M 3-PNS WEETAMOE BROOK NHRIV600020802-07 OSSIPEE 5-M 3-PNS PIKE BROOK NHRIV600030401-02 BROOKFIELD, WAKEFIELD 5-P 3-PNS NH RIV600030406-03 SOMERSWORTH, 5-M 3-PAS ROLLINSFORD DAMES BROOK NH RIV600030601-07 MILTON, FARMINGTON, 5-M 3-PAS MIDDLETON COCHECO RIVER NHRIV600030603-01 FARMINGTON, ROCHESTER 5-P 3-PNS POKAMOONSHINE BROOK NHRIV600030603-02 FARMINGTON 5-M 3-PNS WILLOW BROOK NH RIV600030603-10 ROCHESTER 5-P 3-PAS MOHAWK BROOK NH RIV600030605-05 STRAFFORD, BARRINGTON 5-M 3-PNS NIPPO BROOK NHRIV600030605-15 BARRINGTON, STRAFFORD 5-M 3-PNS N HRIV600030605-16 STRAFFORD, BARRINGTON 5-M 3-PAS BERRY RIVER - FROM LONG POND TO NH RIV600030606-06 BARRINGTON 5-M 3-PNS ISINGLASS RIVER ISINGLASS RIVER NHRIV600030607-10 ROCHESTER, BARRINGTON 5-M 3-PAS SCRUTON POND OUTLET BROOK NH RIV600030607-16 BARRINGTON 5-M 3-PNS COCHECO RIVER - UNNAMED BROOK NH RIV600030608-03 DOVER, ROCHESTER 5-M 3-PAS FRESH CREEK - TWOMBLY BROOK NH RIV600030608-08 ROLLINSFORD, 5-M 3-PNS SOMERSWORTH ROLLINS BROOK N HRIV600030608-10 ROLLINSFORD 5-M 3-PNS - AND HEADWATER NHRIV600030701-01 NORTHWOOD, DEERFIELD 5-M 3-PNS TRIBUTARIES LAMPREY RIVER NHRIV600030701-09 DEERFIELD 5-M 3-PNS LAMPREY RIVER NH RIV600030701-13 DEERFIELD 5-M 3-PAS - UNNAMED BROOKS N HRIV600030702-06 DEERFIELD, CANDIA 5-M 3-PNS NORTH BRANCH RIVER - UNNAMED BROOKS N HRIV600030702-07 CANDIA, DEERFIELD 5-M 3-PNS DUDLEY BROOK - UNNAMED BROOK NHRIV600030703-04 RAYMOND, DEERFIELD, 5-M 3-PNS NOTTINGHAM - UNNAMED BROOK NH RIV600030703-14 NOTTINGHAM, EPPING, 5-M 3-PAS RAYMOND LAMPREY RIVER NH RIV600030703-15 EPPING 5-M 3-PAS MOUNTAIN BROOK - UNNAMED BROOKS NH RIV600030704-07 NOTTINGHAM, DEERFIELD 5-M 3-PNS HOWE BROOK N HRIV600030707-02 BARRINGTON 5-M 3-PNS PISCASSIC RIVER - UNNAMED BROOK NHRIV600030708-02 EPPING, BRENTWOOD, 5-P 3-PNS EXETER, FREMONT, NEWFIELDS PISCASSIC RIVER NHRIV600030708-07 NEWMARKET, NEWFIELDS 5-M 3-PNS FORDWAY BROOK - UNNAMED BROOK NH RIV600030801-05 RAYMOND, CHESTER 5-M 3-PNS December 13, 2019 Page 6 of 7

Town(s) - Primary Town Assessment Unit Name Assessment Unit ID 2016 2018 Listed First DUDLEY BROOK - UNNAMED BROOK NH RIV600030804-06 BRENTWOOD, EXETER, 5-M 3-PNS FREMONT NH RIV600030805-02 EXETER, BRENTWOOD 5-M 3-PAS GREAT BROOK - BRICKYARD BROOK - HOBBS NHRIV600030805-04 EAST KINGSTON, 5-M 3-PAS BROOK - YORK BROOK KENSINGTON EXETER RIVER NH RIV600030805 -09 EXETER 5-M 3-PNS UNNAMED BROOK - TO NH RIV600030806-09 NEWFIELDS 5-M 3-PNS - UNNAMED BROOK- NH RIV600030901-01 NORTH HAMPTON, 5-M 3-PNS CORNELIUS BROOK HAMPTON, STRATHAM PACKER BROOK NH RIV600030901-05 GREENLAND 5-M 3-PNS WINNICUT RIVER - UNNAMED BROOK NHRIV600030901-07 NORTH HAMPTON, 5-M 3-PNS HAMPTON, STRATHAM UNNAMED TRIBUTARY - TO WHEELWRIGHT NH RIV600030902-01 LEE, NOTTINGHAM 5-M 3-PNS POND OYSTER RIVER NH RIV600030902-03 MADBURY, BARRINGTON, 5-M 3-PNS LEE HAMEL BROOK - LONGMARSH BROOK NHRIV600030902-08 DURHAM 5-M 3-PNS COLLEGE BROOK NHRIV600030902-09 DURHAM 5-M 3-PNS RESERVOIR BROOK NHRIV600030902-10 DURHAM 5-M 3-PAS LITTLEHOLE CREEK N HRIV600030902-11 DURHAM, MADBURY 5-M 3-PAS NHRIV600030903-07 BARRINGTON, LEE, 5-M 3-PNS MADBURY PICKERING BROOK NHRIV600030904-06 PORTSMOUTH, 5-M 3-PNS GREENLAND LOWER HODGSON BROOK NHRIV600031001-04 PORTSMOUTH 5-M 3-PNS UPPER HODGSON BROOK NHRIV600031001-05 PORTSMOUTH 5-M 3-PNS BORTHWICK AVE TRIBUTARY NHRIV600031001-09 PORTSMOUTH 5-M 3-PNS NEWFILEDS DITCH NHRIV600031001-10 PORTSMOUTH 5-M 3-PAS BERRYS BROOK NH RIV600031002-01 PORTSMOUTH, 5-M 3-PNS GREENLAND, RYE COCKERMOUTH BROOK NHRIV700010601-05 HEBRON, GROTON 5-M 3-PAS - UNNAMED BROOK NH RIV700010602-05 ALEXANDRIA 5-M 3-PAS BOG BROOK NHRIV700010602-09 ALEXANDRIA, BRISTOL 5-M 3-PAS CILLEY BROOK - FRETTS BROOK NHRIV700010603-01 HEBRON, PLYMOUTH 5-M 3-PAS BLACK BROOK NHRIV700010603-08 BRISTOL 5-M 3-PAS CAMP ONAWAY BROOK NH RIV700010603-16 HEBRON 5-M 3-PNS KENDALL BROOK N HRIV700010603-19 HEBRON 5-M 3-PNS NH RIV700010801-23 NEW HAMPTON, BRISTOL 5-P 3-PAS HAWKINS BROOK - TO MERIDETH BAY NH RIV700020109-02 MEREDITH 5-M 3-PNS FOOTE POND BROOK - TO PICKEREL COVE NHRIV700020110-01 LACONIA, MEREDITH 5-M 3-PNS PAUGUS BAY CONTOOCOOK RIVER - UNNAMED BROOK NHRIV700030101-11 JAFFREY 5-M 3-PAS NHRIV700030104-02 NEW IPSWICH, SHARON, 5-P 3-PAS TEMPLE CONTOOCOOK RIVER - MONADANOCK PAPER NHRIV700030108-15 BENNINGTON, ANTRIM 5-P 3-PAS NPDES TO US OF ANTRIM WWTF NASHUA RIVER NHRIV700040402-05 HOLLIS, NASHUA 5-M 3-PAS TURKEY RIVER - UNNAMED BROOK NHRIV700060301-11 CONCORD, BOW 5-P 3-PAS December 13, 2019 Page 7 of 7

Town(s) - Primary Town Assessment Unit Name Assessment Unit ID 2016 2018 Listed First NH RIV700060302-25-02 BOW, CONCORD, 5-P 3-PAS PEMBROKE SOUTH BRANCH NH RIV700060604-08 FRANCESTOWN 5-M 3-PNS BRENNAN BROOK NH RIV700060604-09 FRANCESTOWN 5-M 3-PNS RAND BROOK NH RIV700060604-10 GREENFIELD, 5-M 3-PNS FRANCESTOWN BOG BROOK NH RIV700060607-02 NEW BOSTON, BEDFORD, 5-M 3-PNS GOFFSTOWN MERRIMACK RIVER NHRIV700060802-14-02 HOOKSETT, MANCHESTER 5-P 3-PAS MCQUESTEN BROOK NH RIV700060803-16 BEDFORD, MANCHESTER 5-P 3-PAS LITTLE - UNNAMED BROOK NH RIV700060804-05 LONDONDERRY, 5-M 3-PAS MANCHESTER STARK BROOK NH RIV700060901-04 NEW IPSWICH 5-M 3-PNS UNNAMED TRIB. TO THE SOUHEGAN RIVER NHRIV700060902-21 GREENVILLE, NEW IPSWICH 5-P 3-PNS - MCQUADE BROOK NH RIV700060905-17 BEDFORD, MERRIMACK 5-M 3-PNS GREAT BROOK - OX BROOK NHRIV700060906-12 MILFORD 5-P 3-PNS MUSKRELL BROOK - TO SOUHEGAN RIVER NH RIV700060906-20 MERRIMACK, AMHERST 5-M 3-PNS - WITCHES BROOK NHRIV700061001-07 MERRIMACK, AMHERST, 5-M 3-PNS HOLLIS, NASHUA KELLY BROOK - SEAVER BROOK NHRIV700061401-04 PLAISTOW, ATKINSON, 5-P 3-PAS HAMPSTEAD BARTLETT BROOK - COLBY BROOK - UNNAMED NH RIV700061403-05 DANVILLE, HAMPSTEAD, 5-M 3-PNS BROOK KINGSTON, SANDOWN POWWOW RIVER NHRIV700061403-09 KINGSTON 5-M 3-PNS POWWOW RIVER - UNNAMED BROOK - NHRIV700061403-17 SOUTH HAMPTON, EAST 5-M 3-PNS GRASSY BROOK KINGSTON, KENSINGTON, NEWTON DARTMOUTH BROOK - TO AMMONOOSUC NH RIV801030401-09 CARROLL, CRAWFORDS 5-M 3-PNS RIVER PURCHASE LOVEJOY BROOK - SCALES BROOK - UNNAMED NH RIV801060105-08 HANOVER, CANAAN, 5-P 3-PNS BROOK ENFIELD UNNAMED BROOK - DODGE POND NORTH NH RIV801070201-09 LEMPSTER 5-M 3-PNS INLET BLACK BROOK - DICKINSON BROOK - NH RIV802010301-05 KEENE, SURRY, 5-P 3-PNS UNNAMED BROOK WESTMORELAND ASHUELOT RIVER - OTTER BR TO KEENE WWTF NHRIV802010301-11 SWANZEY, KEENE 5-M 3-PAS MITIGATION BASIN 2 NHLAK600030708-02 BRENTWOOD, EPPING 5-M 3-ND POWWOW RIVER NHRIV700061403-14 KINGSTON 5-M 3-PNS SQUAMSCOTT RIVER SOUTH NHEST600030806-01-01 STRATHAM, EXETER, 5-M 3-PNS NEWFIELDS SQUAMSCOTT RIVER NORTH NH EST600030806-01-02 STRATHAM, NEWFIELDS 5-M 3-PAS LAMPREY RIVER NORTH NHEST600030709-01-01 NEWMARKET 5-P 3-PNS OYSTER RIVER NH EST600030902-01-03 DURHAM 5-P 3-PNS OYSTER RIVER MOUTH NH EST600030904-06-17 DURHAM 5-P 3-PNS SALMON FALLS RIVER NHEST600030406-01 DOVER, ROLLINSFORD, RYE 5-M 3-PNS