Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

train passing wetlands

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

January 5, 2010
 
    There are no Scoping Notices for review and comment in this edition.
  
   There are no Environmental Impact Evaluations for review and comment in this edition. 
   
   STEP I - Notices of Intent to Transfer Property.    
   1. 100 Wilmont Road, New Haven.
   2. "Moss Sanctuary," Storrs (Route 195) and South Eagleville Roads, Mansfield and "North Property," Mason & Daleville Roads, Willington, CT
                  

   STEP II - Public comments regarding proposed transfers that were posted previously in the Environmental Monitor, and the Office of Policy and Management's (OPM's) responses to those comments.  None in this edition.

                   

   STEP III - Draft recommendations of the Commissioner of Environmental Protection regarding preservation of properties proposed for transfer.  None in this edition. 

     

   STEP IV - Final recommendations of the Commissioner of Environmental Protection regarding disposition of properties proposed for transfer, along with comments and responses from Step III.  None in this edition.

       

   STEP V - Final determinations by the Secretary of OPM regarding the ultimate disposition of properties proposed for transfer.  None in this edition.

 
The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on January 19, 2010.
 
Subscribe to e-alerts to receive an e-mail when The Environmental Monitor is published.
No scoping notices are posted for review or comment in this edition.
"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.
 
No Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) notices have been submitted for review and comment in this edition.
   

State Land Transfer Notices


Connecticut General Statutes Section 4b-47 provides for public notice of proposed transfers of state-owned lands out of state ownership. The notice process takes place in steps. Step I is the notice of intent to transfer, which includes an opportunity for any person to comment. If comments are received, the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) will respond, and the comments and responses will be published as Step II.

The Commissioner of Environmental Protection may choose to evaluate the property more thoroughly and recommend preservation of the property or restrictions on the transfer. Step III is publication of the Commissioner's report and draft recommendations, and includes a 30-day public comment period.   Step IV is publication of the Commissioner’s responses to any public comments along with the Commissioner's final recommendations regarding the property.

Step V is publication of OPM’s final determination regarding disposition of the property. Fifteen days after this posting the transfer may proceed.

IMPORTANT:  Most proposed transfers are not required to go through all five steps.  The land may be sold or transferred 15 days after the close of the comment period of Step I if no comments are received.  If comments are received, and the DEP does not elect to conduct and publish a more thorough study of the property, the land may be sold or transferred 15 days after publication of the comments and responses under Step II.

Step I  
Notices of Intent to Transfer
This mandatory step opens a 30-day public comment period. Instructions for submitting comments are included in each notice. If no comments are received, a proposed transfer may proceed 15 days after the close of the comment period. If comments are received, they will be posted in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor, along with responses from OPM.
The following Step I Notices have been submitted for review and comment in this edition. 

1. Notice of Proposed Land Transfer, New Haven

Complete Address of Property: 100 Wilmont Road, New Haven, CT


Commonly used name of property or other identifying information: N/A


Number of acres to be transferred: 0.37 ac.


Click to view map of property location

Description of Property

Below is some general information about the property.  It should not be considered a complete description of the property and should not be relied upon for making decisions.  If only a portion of a property is proposed for transfer, the description pertains only to the portion being transferred.

Brief Description of Historical and Current Uses: Vacant land

The property to be transferred contains the following:
 Buildings in use
Buildings not in use
Wooded land

 Nonagricultural fields

 Active agriculture
 Paved areas
 Ponds, streams or other water

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


Click to view aerial view of property

The Locational Guide Map of the Connecticut Conservation and Development Policies Plan for Connecticut identifies the property as being in the following category(ies):
 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):

Not zoned
Residential
Industrial
 Commercial
 Institutional
 Other: 
 Not known


Special features of the property, if known: None

Value of property, if known:
If checked, value is not known.

Links to other available information

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:

Proposed recipient, if known: Unknown

Proposed use by property recipient, if known:  Unknown

The agency is proposing to transfer the property with the following restrictions on future uses:
 If checked, the state is not currently proposing restrictions on future uses.

Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property: The State has deemed the property surplus, since the property is no longer needed for State use and no re-use proposals were received by other State agencies.

Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on January 7, 2010. 


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* must be sent to:

Name:

Patrick O'Brien

Agency:

Office of Policy and Management

Address:

 450 Capitol Avenue MS#52 ASP
Hartford, CT 06106-1379

E-Mail:

 Patrick.Obrien@ct.gov


*E-Mail submissions are preferred. 

(Comments from state agencies must be on agency letterhead and signed by agency head.  Scanned copies are preferred.)


Please send a copy of any written comments to:


Name:

Shane P. Mallory, RPA

Agency:

Department of Public Works

Address:

165 Capitol Avenue, G-1

Hartford, CT 06106

E-Mail:

 shane.mallory@ct.gov

What Happens Next?

To find out if this proposed transfer is the subject of further notices, check future editions of the Environmental Monitor.Sign up for e-alerts to receive a reminder e-mail on Environmental Monitor publication dates.
 

2. Notice of Proposed Land Transfer, Mansfield and Willington, CT

Complete Address of Property:

"Moss Sanctuary," Storrs (Route 195) and South Eagleville Roads, Mansfield and "North Property," Mason & Daleville Roads, Willington, CT


Commonly used name of property or other identifying information :

Moss Sanctuary (UConn), Moss Forest (UConn), North Property (Connecticut Forest & Park Association)


Number of acres to be transferred:

UConn will convey 135.4 acres of its Moss Sanctuary property together with an easement of access and egress to the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) in exchange for CFPA's 96.3 acres "North Property."  UConn will also grant CFPA a perpetual easement of public access for use of the Nipmuck Trail over parts of the Moss and Fenton forests owned by UConn.  UConn will also grant CFPA a Declaration of Restrictive Covenants over UConn's Moss Forest.  For it's part, CFPA will transfer title to the North Property (96.3 acres) subject to a Declaration of Conservation Restriction.


Click to view map of properties' location

UConn_CFPA_Land _Transfer_Map


Description of Property

Below is some general information about the properties.  It should not be considered a complete description of the properties and should not be relied upon for making decisions.  If only a portion of a property is proposed for transfer, the description pertains only to the portion being transferred.

Brief Description of Historical and Current Uses:

UConn and CFPA use these properties to support and enhance forest resources through research, educational, demonstration, and outreach programs including UConn's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Forest Management Program.  CFPA maintains the Nipmuck Trail, a Blue-Blazed Hiking trail, through these properties providing outdoor recreational and educational benefits to the public.

The properties to be transferred contains the following:
 Buildings in use
Buildings not in use
Wooded land

 Nonagricultural fields

 Active agriculture
 Paved areas
 Ponds, streams or other water

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


Click to view aerial view of properties

UConn_CFPA_Aerial_Photo



The Locational Guide Map of the Connecticut Conservation and Development Policies Plan for Connecticut identifies the property as being in the following category(is):
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):

Not zoned
Residential
Industrial
 Commercial
 Institutional
 Other: 
 Not known


Special features of the property, if known:

Value of property, if known:
If checked, value is not known.

Links to other available information

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:

Proposed recipient, if known:
Connecticut Forest & Park Association


Proposed use by properties recipient, if known:

In terms of the easement over parts of Moss and Fenton forests, CFPA will preserve public access for use of the Nipmuck Trail.  In terms of the Moss Sanctuary, CFPA agrees that it shall hold the Moss Sanctuary for its charitable purposes, including by way of illustration, the following:

  • To ensure that substantially all of the Protected Property will be forever retained and allowed to evolve in a predominantly undeveloped wooded or early successional state;
  • To protect the natural functioning and integrity of wetlands and watercourses on the Protected Property;
  • To protect wildlife habitat;
  • To provide for passive recreational use by the general public;
  • To allow for the construction and use of safety and educational facilities;
  • To restrict or prohibit activities that will impair or interfere with the ecological and open space values of the Protected Property recited above;
  • To protect plants, animals, and natural ecological communities of environmental concern.

UConn and CFPA acknowledge that CFPA shall transfer title to the Moss Sanctuary to the Town of Mansfield, or if said Town is unwilling to accept title on terms acceptable to CFPA, to another conservation organization or governmental entity for the purposes set forth above.

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

UConn has agreed to:

  • Manage the Moss Forest as part of its Forest Management Program for 50 years;
  • Convey the Moss Sanctuary property for CFPA's charitable purposes;
  • Grant CFPA a perpetual easement of public access for use of the Nipmuck Trail over portions of the Moss and Fenton forests.

The CFPA's charitable purposes include promoting sound forest management of forest lands and provide public access to forested lands.


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

Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property: 
UConn is proposing to transfer the Moss Sanctuary and grant the previously described easements in return for acquisition of the North Property in Moss Forest.  UConn seeks to increase the size of its Moss Forest education and research forest property.  UConn conducts research, educational, demonstration and outreach programs through its College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  In addition, UConn's forest management practices provides protection to the Fenton River watershed and its aquatic resources.

Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on January 7, 2010.


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 :

Patrick O’Brien

Agency :

Office of Policy and Management

Address :

 450 Capitol Avenue MS#52 ASP
Hartford, CT 06106-1379

E-Mail :

 Patrick.Obrien@ct.gov


*E-Mail submissions are preferred. 

(Comments from state agencies must be on agency letterhead and signed by agency head.  Scanned copies are preferred.)


            

What Happens Next?

To find out if this proposed transfer is the subject of further notices, check future editions of the Environmental Monitor.  Sign up for e-alerts to receive a reminder e-mail on Environmental Monitor publication dates.
 

STEP II 

Public comments regarding proposed transfers that were posted previously (Step I) in the Environmental Monitor, and OPM's responses to those comments

This step is contingent upon the receipt of public comments in Step I. It is not required if no comments were received. Unless the Commissioner of Environmental Protection elects to study the property more thoroughly and publish a report with draft recommendations (see Step III), the transfer may proceed 15 days after publication. There are no Step II Notices in this edition.

 
Step III

Draft recommendations of the Commissioner of Environmental Protection regarding preservation of properties proposed for transfer


This step is required only if the Commissioner of Environmental Protection recommends preservation of all or part of a property, which may include restrictions on the transfer. This step includes a 30-day public comment period. Any comments received will be published in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor under Step IV, along with the Commissioner's responses and final recommendation.
No Step III Notices have been submitted for review and comment in this edition. 
Step IV

 Final recommendations of the Commissioner of Environmental Protection regarding disposition of properties proposed for transfer, along with comments and responses from Step III


This step is contingent on Step III having occurred. After this publication, the Secretary of OPM will make the final determination regarding the property (Step V).
There are no Step IV Notices in this edition.

 Step V

Final determinations by the Secretary of OPM regarding the ultimate disposition of properties
 

This step is contingent on Steps III and IV having occurred. Fifteen days after publication of this Step V notice, a proposed transfer may proceed pursuant to the OPM Secretary’s final determination. There are no Step V Notices in this edition.

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Copyright 2009, Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality