Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

1. Notice of Proposed Pomfret Sewer Easement


Complete Address of Property:

From Route 44/169 Crossing in Pomfret to Town Farm Road in Putnam

Number of acres to be transferred:

Non-exclusive easement along 3.27 miles of former railroad right-of-way

Click to View Maps:

Figure 1. Map of Property Location

Figure 2. Map of Property Location


Description of Property
Brief Description of Historical and Current Uses:
The Town of Pomfret has requested a non-exclusive easement for the installation of a force main sanitary sewer line beneath 3.27 miles along the Air Line State Park Trail (the Trail) to address operational and pollution concern issues associated with onsite wastewater management systems available at The Pomfret School, the Rectory School, Loos & Company, Inc., and municipal buildings (e.g., town library; Pomfret Community School).  The proposed sewer line will be dedicated to such users and will not be available for other users.  The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) maintains the Trail for public recreation purposes and such uses will be enhanced and continued after completion of the sewer installation project.  DEEP acquired this segment of former railroad line in 1976, as a part of its acquisitions from the Department of Transportation that now comprise the North Section of the Air Line State Park Trail property.

The property contains the following:


Structures:   Buildings in use   Buildings not in use    No Structures

Other Features:   Wooded land      Nonagricultural fields     Active agriculture

 Paved areas      Ponds, streams, other water, wetlands

Water Supply:       Public water supply    On-site well                Unknown
Waste Disposal:    Served by sewers      On-site septic system   Unknown

The Connecticut Conservation and Development Policies Plan identifies the property as being in the following category:

Regional Center
Neighborhood Conservation Area
Growth Area
  Rural Community Center
  Rural Area
 Conservation Area

 Preservation Area

 Existing Preserved Open Space

The property is in the following municipal zone(s):

Residential Industrial  Commercial  Institutional
 Other: 
Not zoned Not known

Value of property, if known:

If checked, value is not known.

Type of Sale or Transfer:

Sale or transfer of property in fee

Sale or transfer of partial interest in the property (such as an easement).Description of interest:  Non-exclusive Easement

Proposed recipient:  Town of Pomfret

Proposed use by property recipient:

The Town of Pomfret intends to install a pressurized sanitary sewer line (i.e., force main pipe) beneath the Trail and an associated pump station off-trail. Each of the above-mentioned users will utilize an individual pump station that will convey wastewater to a centralized pump station located near the intersection of Route 44/169 in Pomfret (See Figure 2). From the centralized pump station, wastewater will be pumped over to the Wastewater Treatment Facility in the Town of Putnam via the force main pipe installed along the Trail for final treatment.

As owner of the Air Line State Park Trail, DEEP will continue to maintain the property for public recreation purposes. The centralized pump station would generally consist of a concrete wet well, submersible pumps, valve vault, remote alarm system, odor control system, a standby emergency generator, and approximately a 60’x12’ stockade fencing enclosure.  

The agency is proposing to transfer the property with the following restrictions on future uses:

DEEP will reserve the right to continue to use the land within which the easement will be granted for any use and purposes.  The easement will limit the future installation of above ground wastewater infrastructure or appurtenances associated therewith. The easement will require the installation of odor control measures.  DEEP will ensure that it incurs no expense as a result of said easement and ensure that the Town of Pomfret bears all direct and indirect costs of construction, building, repairing, operation and maintenance of said easements.

If checked, the state is not currently proposing restrictions on future uses.

Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property:

DEEP, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, will be developing the Trail to enhance recreational opportunities following the Town of Pomfret’s sewer installation project.  In exchange, the Town is proposing to provide DEEP with an A-2 survey of the property and create engineering plans for the development of the trail, including 7 road crossings (2 of which are pedestrian bridge designs), all to DOT construction specifications.


Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on OCTOBER 5, 2017


Comments may include (but are not limited to) information you might have about significant natural resources or recreation resources on the property, as well as your recommendations for means to preserve such resources.


Written comments* should be sent to:
Name:

Paul F. Hinsch

Title:

Bureau of Assets Management

Agency:

Office of Policy and Management

Address:

450 Capitol Avenue

Hartford, CT 06106-1379

E-Mail:

Paul.Hinsch@ct.gov

*E-Mail submissions are preferred.