Environmental Monitor

August 20, 2013 

  1.     Francis Clarke Industrial Park Expansion, Bethel.
  2.     NEW! Former Connecticut Transit Bus Facility, New Haven.      
  1.     National Coast Guard Museum Pedestrian Overpass Project, New London
        (DECD requested publication of notice that an EIE will be prepared for this project.)
  2.     Bridgewater Associates, Stamford.
  3.     NEW! Old Saybrook Shore Line East Railroad Parking Lot Expansion, Old Saybrook.
  4.     NEW! Housatonic River Restoration, Milford, New Milford, Seymour, Stratford, Watertown.
  
   No Environmental Impact Evaluation has been submitted for publication in this edition.
   
 
     No State Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.   

The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on  September 3, 2013.
 
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Scoping Notices

"Scoping" is for projects in the earliest stages of planning.  At the scoping stage, detailed information on a project's design, alternatives, and environmental impacts does not yet exist.  Sponsoring agencies are asking for comments from other agencies and from the public as to the scope of alternatives and environmental impacts that should be considered for further study.  Send your comments to the contact person listed for the project by the date indicated.


The following Scoping Notices have been submitted for review and comment.


1. Notice of Scoping for Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park Expansion

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Bethel

Address of Possible Project Location: Trowbridge Drive, Bethel, CT

Project Description: The Town of Bethel is seeking state financial assistance for the expansion of the existing Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park by extending an existing roadway (Trowbridge Drive) southerly in order to add approximately 50 acres of town-owned land which could result in the creation of up to 10 additional lots. The additional lots would be located on land to the east of the proposed Trowbridge Drive extension. The property located on the west side of the proposed Trowbridge Drive extension will remain open space. The DECD had previously partnered with the Town of Bethel to create a Municipal Development Plan (MDP) dated August 1983 which allowed for the creation of the Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park.   In addition the town is proposing to create three additional lots within the existing industrial park in areas previously classified as open space in the MDP Project Plan Report. The Town is required to abide by the Project Plan Report until it expires in August 2013. The proposed activities include roadway and utility extension and other associated project costs.

Project Maps:

Click here to view a location map of the project area.

Click here to view a conceptual layout of the project area.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  September 6, 2013

Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public Scoping Meeting by sending such a request to the address below.  If a meeting is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the sponsoring agency shall schedule a Public Scoping Meeting.  Such requests must be made by August 16, 2013.

Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:

Name: Mark Hood
Agency: Department of Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Fax: 860-270-8157
E-Mail: mark.hood@ct.gov

If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:

Name: Mark Hood
Agency: Department of Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-270-8089
Fax: 860-270-8157
E-Mail: mark.hood@ct.gov

1. Notice of Scoping for Former CT Transit Bus Facility

Municipality where proposed project might be located: New Haven

Address of Possible Project Location: 470 James Street

Project Description: The Former CT Transit Bus Facility located at 470 James Street, New Haven, CT has been identified by the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) as a state-owned brownfield in accordance with the provisions of Public Act 11-1, Section 24-27.  The 470 James Street parcel consists of a 6.95 acre site which includes a 194,727 square foot warehouse style building built in 1976 and formerly used by CT Transit as a bus maintenance facility. The proposed state action is to complete an environmental investigation, remedial action plan and cleanup of the site.

Project Maps:  Click here to view a location map  of the project area. Click here to view an aerial photo map of the project area.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  September 20, 2013.

Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public Scoping Meeting by sending such a request to the address below.  If a meeting is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the sponsoring agency shall schedule a Public Scoping Meeting.  Such requests must be made by August 30, 2013.

Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:

Name: Mark Hood
Agency: Department of Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Fax: 860-270-8157
E-Mail: mark.hood@ct.gov

If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:

 

Name: Mark Hood
Agency: Department of Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-270-8089
Fax: 860-270-8157
E-Mail: mark.hood@ct.gov


 
Post-Scoping Notices:   Environmental Impact Evaluation Not Required
 
This category is required by the October 2010 revision of the Generic Environmental Classification Document for State Agencies. A notice is published here if the sponsoring agency, after publication of a scoping notice and consideration of comments received, has determined that an  Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) does not need to be prepared for the proposed project.

The following Post-Scoping Notices have been submitted for publication in this edition.


1. Post-Scoping Notice for National Coast Guard Museum Pedestrian Overpass Project - EIE Required

Municipality where project will be located: New London

CEPA Determination:  On June 18, 2013 the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental MonitorThe DECD has taken those comments into consideration and has concluded that the project does require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA. The issues/concerns raised are explained in the Environmental Assessment Checklist. The agency's conclusion is documented in a  Memo of Findings and Determination.


If you have questions about the project, you can contact the agency at:

Name:

Mark Hood

Agency:

Department of Economic and Community Development

Address:

505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106

Phone:

860-270-8089
Fax: 860-270-8157

E-Mail:

mark.hood@ct.gov


What happens next:

The DECD will prepare an Environmental Impact Evaluation for the proposed project.



2. Post-Scoping Notice for Bridgewater Associates

Municipality where project will be located: Stamford

CEPA Determination:  On May 21, 2013 the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor.  The DECD has taken those comments into consideration and has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA. The issues/concerns raised are explained in the Environmental Assessment Checklist. The agency's conclusion is documented in a Memo of Findings and Determination.

If you have questions about the project, you can contact the agency at:

Name:

Mark Hood

Agency:

Department of Economic and Community Development

Address:

505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106

Phone:

860-270-8089

Fax:

860-270-8157

E-Mail:

mark.hood@ct.gov

What happens next: The DECD expects the project to go forward. This is expected to be the final notice of the project to be published in the Environmental Monitor.


1. Post-Scoping Notice for Old Saybrook Shore Line East Railroad Parking Lot Expansion

Municipality where project will be located: Old Saybrook, CT

CEPA Determination:  On November 22, 2011 the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor.  The CTDOT has received comments from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and from the Department of Public Health.  Since this time, the magnitude of the project has decreased significantly.  The current scope of the project includes acquiring only 3.6 acres of the original 12 acre property on which to put 200 parking spaces rather than the 812 spaces from the original scoping announcement.  Click here to view the current design concept and a map of the project area.  The CTDOT has taken all comments into consideration and has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.  The agency's conclusion is documented in an Environmental Assessment Checklist and in a Memo of Findings and Determination.

If you have questions about the project, you can contact the agency at:

Name:

Mr. Mark W. Alexander,Transportation Assistant Planning Director, Bureau of Policy and Planning 

Agency:

Connecticut Department of Transportation

Address:

2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131

Phone:

860-594-2931

Fax:

860-594-3028

E-Mail:

dot.environmentalplanning@ct.gov


What happens next:
The CTDOT expects the project to go forward. This is expected to be the final notice of the project to be published in the Environmental Monitor.


2. Post-Scoping Notice for Housatonic River Restoration

Municipalities where projects will be located: Milford, New Milford, Seymour, Stratford, Watertown

CEPA Determination:  On July 16, 2013 the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection published a Notice of Scoping in the Environmental Monitor to solicit public comments on projects to restore natural resources and resource services in Connecticut injured as a result of the release of PCBs from the General Electric Facility in Pittsfield, MA.  The only comment received during the 30-day review period was from the Department of Public Health.  Click here to access the comment and the Department's response.  Based on the assessment of potential impacts of the projects by the Department and the Connecticut SubCouncil of the Housatonic River Natural Resources Trustee Council, the Deparment has concluded that the projects do not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.

The environmental assessment supporting this conclusion is documented in the Amendment to the Housatonic River Basin Final Natural Resources Restoration Plan

If you have questions about the project, you can contact the agency at:

Name:

Robin Adamcewicz

Agency:

Department of Energy and Environmental Protection 
Wildlife Division

Address:

Eastern District Headquarters
209 Hebron Road
Marlborough, CT 06477

Phone:

860-295-9523

Fax:

860-295-8175

E-Mail:

robin.adamcewicz@ct.gov


What happens next:
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection expects these projects to go forward. This is expected to be the final notice of the projects to be published in the Environmental Monitor.


 
EIE Notices
 
After Scoping, an agency that wishes to undertake an action that could significantly affect the environment must produce, for public review and comment, a detailed written evaluation of the expected environmental impacts. This is called an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE).


No EIE has been submitted for publication in this edition.


 
 
Connecticut General Statutes Section 4b-47 requires public notice of most proposed sales and transfers of state-owned lands. The public has an opportunity to comment on any such proposed transfer. Each notice includes an address where comments should be sent. Read more about the five-step process.


 
 
No State Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.


 

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