train passing wetlands

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

December 4, 2007
Scoping Notices
There are no Scoping Notices available for review and comment in this edition.
Environmental Impact Evaluations available for review and comment:
   NEW ! 1. Middletown Water Pollution Control Facility Abandonment
DOT Notification of Deminimus Impact
    
   NEW ! 1.  Replacement of Bridge # 8020R - Metro North Railroad over Tokeneke Brook (Darien)

State Land Transfers

There are no state land transfers posted for public notice or comment in this edition.

The next issue will be published on December 18, 2007.
Subscribe to e-alerts to receive an e-mail when The Environmental Monitor is published.

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.

There are no Scoping Notices available for review and comment.

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

 

1. Notice of EIE for Middletown Water Pollution Control Facility Abandonment

Municipalities where project is proposed: Middletown & Cromwell

Project Description: This project will eliminate the Middletown Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) through the construction of a pump station and sewers to convey the wastewater to the Mattabassett District WPCF in Cromwell for treatment and discharge to the Connecticut River.  The new pump station will be located at the Route 9/17 interchange, the site of an existing pump station.  The most environmentally sound, cost-effective routing for conveyance of the wastewater was found to be from the pump station northerlyalong DeKoven Drive to the Route 9/railroad line transportation corridor and then northerly along the western edge of the transportation corridor to the Mattabassett WPCF. 

Project Map:  Click here to view an aerial photo depicting the WCPFs and route of the proposed sewer line.

Comments on this EIE will be accepted until the close of business on:  January 18, 2008

Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public Hearing on this EIE by sending such a request to the address below by December 14, 2007.  If a hearing is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the Department of Environmental Protection must schedule a Public Hearing.

The public can view a copy of this EIE at:

   Department of Environmental Protection
   Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse
   Municipal Facilities Section (2nd Floor)
   79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106

or at the offices of the town clerk in Middletown or Cromwell:

   City Hall
   245 DeKoven Dr.
   Middletown, CT 06457

   Town Hall
   41 West St.
   Cromwell, CT 06416

A link to the EIE can also be found online at the DEP website, if you click here.

Send your comments about this EIE or requests for a public hearing to:

Name:
Dennis Greci
Supervising Sanitary Engineer
Agency: Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse
Address: 79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT  06106
Phone: (860) 424-3751
Fax: (860) 424-4067
E-Mail: dennis.greci@po.state.ct.us

If you have questions about the project, a public hearing, where you can review this EIE, or similar matters, please contact Mr. Greci as directed above.


  DOT Section 4(f) Deminimus Impact Notifications

Section 4(f) of the U.S. DOT Act states that the Federal Highway Administration and other U.S. DOT agencies cannot approve the use of land from a significant publicly owned park, recreation area, wildlife or waterfowl refuge, or any significant historic site unless the following conditions apply:

   
There is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of land.

   The action includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the property resulting from use.

The purpose of this notification is to document the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (Department) recommendation that in accordance with Section 6009 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and the associated Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)- Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joint guidance dated December 13, 2005, a Section 4(f) De Minimis Impacts Finding is appropriate for the property affected by this project. 


1. Replacement of Bridge # 8020R - Metro North Railroad over Tokeneke Brook, Darien

Project Description:   The project involves the replacement of Bridge No. 08020R that carries the Main Line of Metro-North Railroad over Tokeneke Brook in Darien, Connecticut.  The structure is 100 feet in length in an embankment carrying four main line Metro-North tracks. Recent inspections have revealed that the culvert to be in a deteriorating condition.  Improving the structure’s integrity through replacement is the purpose of this project. 

Two easements for temporary access on an unnamed dirt road that provides secondary service access to Selleck’s Woods is required for this project.  Selleck’s Woods is a public recreational park that is maintained by a private non-profit organization on behalf of the Darien Parks and Recreation Commission.   The park is used for recreational activities such as hiking and walking. Therefore the park is protected under Section 4(f) of the DOT Act.  The required temporary easements will automatically terminate upon completion of the bridge maintenance work unless sooner released by the State.

The temporary easements taken will be restored by restoring the gravel road area if damaged by this work and grading and seeding the grass area.  The first easement area totals 3526 square feet while the second easement area totals 1381 square feet for a total combined area of 4907 square feet.     

Project Map(s):  Click here to view a map of the location plan.

                          Click here to view a map of the project plan. 

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: January 2, 2008 

Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public 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 Meeting.

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

Name: Mr. Jay Young
Agency: State of Connecticut Department of Transportation
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT
Fax: 860-594-2913
E-Mail: d.jay.young@po.state.ct.us

If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the Section 4(f) impacts of this project, contact:

Name: Mr. Keith T. Hall - Transportation Supervising Planner
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike
Room 2155
Newington, CT
Phone: 860-594-2926
Fax: 860-594-3028
E-Mail: Keith.Hall@po.state.ct.us


State Land Transfer Notices
There are no state land transfers posted for public notice or comment in this edition.

 
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 2006, Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality


V>