Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

train passing wetlands

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR
The official site for project information under
the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act

July 19, 2005
Scoping Notices
1.  NEW!  Rentschler Field Infrastructure Improvements (East Hartford)
2.  NEW!  Norwich Intermodal Transportation Center (Norwich)
Environmental Impact Evaluations available for review and comment
        1.  Adult Care Facility (Rocky Hill)
The next issue will be published on August 2, 2005.
Subscribe to e-alerts for The Environmental Monitor.

Scoping Notices

Scoping Notices have been issued for the following state projects.  These projects are 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.

1. Notice of Scoping for Rentschler Field Infrastructure Improvements

Municipality  where proposed project might be located: East Hartford

Address of Possible Project Location: Rentschler Field

Project Description: An Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA and an Environmental Assessment under NEPA will be prepared for two proposed State actions.  The first State action is the construction of a new access roadway and grade-separated Roberts Street/Silver Lane intersection in the Town of East Hartford.  The purpose of the proposed action is to improve vehicular access to and from the existing United Technologies Corporation (UTC) property and the proposed new development of the former Rentschler Field.  The Master Plan for the development of Rentschler Field consists of a mix of uses including research and development, educational, retail, entertainment, housing and open space use facilities totaling approximately eight million square feet.  

Located within the same geographical setting, the second State action is the construction of a roadway and associated utilities to access the proposed East Hartford-Glastonbury Elementary Magnet School.  The preferred access would begin immediately south of the Roberts Street/Silver Lane intersection and would terminate at the proposed magnet school site immediately west of the existing East Hartford High School and International Baccalaureate Academy. 

This EIE/EA will address the direct impacts of the state actions described above as well as secondary and cumulative impacts to the natural and man-made environment associated with the proposed Rentschler Field development.  A portion of the former Rentschler Field is inhabited by state-listed rare, threatened and endangered species.  Impact to, and mitigation for, these species will be addressed in the EIE.

Project Map:   click here to view a map of the project area

Written comments from the public concerning the nature and extent of any environmental impacts of the proposed action are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on August 18, 2005.

Additional information on the nature and extent of the proposed action will be presented at a Public Scoping Meeting at:

DATE: August 9,2005

TIME: 6 p.m.

PLACE: East Hartford, City Hall, Council of Chambers

Written comments should be sent to:

Name: Peter Simmons
Agency: Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson, Hartford, CT 06106-7106 
Fax: 860-270-8157
E-Mail: peter.simmons@po.state.ct.us

The agency expects to release a Draft EIE/EA for this project, for public review and comment, in end of October 2005.

2. Notice of Scoping for Norwich Intermodal Transportation Center

Municipality where proposed project will be located: Norwich, CT

Address of Project Location: Hollyhock Island  

Project Description: Design and construct a new bus terminal and parking facility on approximately 3.5 acres on Hollyhock Island located adjacent to the Norwich central business district and Norwich Harbor.  The facility will be a multi-modal transportation center providing a hub for the linkage of passenger cars with public and private transit service, water transportation and potential future light rail service.  The facility will include:

A new multi-level 220 car, 80,000 square foot parking structure

A new surface bus station with 2,500 square feet of enclosed structure with passenger amenities

Accommodations for shuttle and limousine service to nearby resorts

Water access to pedestrian and small craft boaters

Linkage to water transportation

Related site and roadway improvements and utility infrastructure to support the new development

Project Map(s):  Click here to view a map of the project area.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Friday September 2, 2005. 

NOTES:

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.

Additional information about the project can be viewed in person at: The Norwich Community Development Corporation 77 Main Street - Norwich, CT. (860) 887-6964. 

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

Name: Mr. Edgar T. Hurle - Transportation Planning Director
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Fax: 860-594-3028
E-Mail: mailto:Edgar.Hurle@po.state.ct.us

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

Name: Mr. Keith T. Hall - Transportation Supervising Planner
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Phone: 860-594-2926
Fax: 860-595-3028
E-Mail: mailto:Keith.Hall@po.state.ct.us

The agency expects to release a Draft Environmental Impact Evaluation for this project, for public review and comment, in January, 2006.

EIE Notices
The following Environmental Impact Evaluations have been completed by state agencies and are available for review and comment. 

1. EIE Notice for Adult Care Facility

Municipality where project is proposed: Rocky Hill

Address of Project Location: 287 West Street (Veterans’ Home)

Project Description: The U.S. and Connecticut Departments of Veterans’ Affairs are proposing a new 125-bed Adult Care Facility on the campus of the existing Veterans’ Home property.  The new state-of-the-art building will include five 25-bed units designed to be interchangeable in functions.  This will allow for consolidation of all adult care services currently occurring on the VA Home campus in one building and specialized care in appropriately equipped wings.  In addition to the new facility, a 50-space surface parking lot and a pool are being proposed. 

Since both federal and state funds are being used for this project, a joint document called an Environmental Assessment/Environmental Impact Evaluation (EA/EIE) has been prepared for this project.

Project Map:Click here to view a map of the project area.

Comments on this EA/EIE will be accepted until the close of business on: August 5, 2005

The public can view a copy of the EA/EIE at:

Cora J. Belden Library

33 Church Street, Rocky Hill, CT

Rocky Hill Town Clerk’s Office

761 Old Main Street, Rocky Hill, CT

CT Department of Public Works

165 Capitol Avenue, Room 275

Hartford, CT

Veterans’ Home

287 West Street, Rocky Hill, CT

Connecticut State Library

231 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT

There is no public hearing scheduled for this EA/EIE. The agency will hold a public hearing if 25 or more persons or an association that has at least 25 members requests a hearing.  A public hearing request must be made no later than July 1, 2005.

Send your comments about this EA/EIE to:

Name:

Charley Williams HMCM(SS) USN RET, Chief of Staff

Agency:

Connecticut Department of Veterans' Affairs

Address:

287 West Street

Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Fax:

(860) 721-5919

E-Mail:

charley.williams@po.state.ct.us

If you have questions about requesting a public hearing, or where you can review this EA/EIE, or similar matters, please contact:

Name:

Tim Desroches, Project Manager

Agency:

Department of Public Works

Address:

165 Capitol Avenue

Room 460

Hartford, Connecticut

Phone:

(860) 713-5925

Fax:

(860) 713-7270

E-Mail:

timothy.desroches@po.state.ct.us

The Adobe Reader is necessary to view and print Adobe Acrobat documents, including some of the maps and illustrations that are linked to this publication. If you have an outdated version of Adobe Reader, it might cause pictures to display incompletely. To download up-to-date versions of the free software, click on the Get Acrobat button, below. This link will also provide information and instructions for downloading and installing the reader.

Button - Get Adobe Reader Download the free Acrobat Reader!
 

Access.Adobe is a tool that allows blind and visually impaired users to read any documents in Adobe PDF format.  For more information, go to Welcome to Access.Adobe.Com

Copyright 2002, Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality


V>