Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

Environmental Monitor

July 22, 2014 

  1.    Proposed Disposition of the University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus, West Hartford
  2.    NEW! Old Lyme Coastal Wastewater Management Plan, Old Lyme    
  1.    New Britain Infrastructure/Roadway Improvements Along Route 71, New Britain 
  2.    NEW! Marlborough Center Water Main, Marlborough
  1.     National Coast Guard Museum Pedestrian Overpass Project, New London  
 
    No state land transfer notice has been submitted for publication in this edition. 
               
 The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on  August 5, 2014.
 
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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 Proposed Disposition of the University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus
 

Municipality where proposed project might be located: West Hartford

Address of Possible Project Location: 85 Lawler Road, 1345 Trout Brook Drive, and 1796-1800 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, CT
 
Project Description:  The Greater Hartford campus is currently situated on 58 acres and includes the Harleigh B. Tracker Library; the Information Technology Center building; the School of Social Work building; the Undergraduate building; and a Facilities Operations building. The campus also includes surface parking for 1,050 vehicles and intramural playing fields. It currently serves approximately 1,400 undergraduate and 1,520 full- and part-time graduate students.  In addition, there are approximately 410 faculty and other affiliated or non-affiliated staff utilizing the facilities.
 
The operations of UConn’s Greater Hartford campus are moving to the City of Hartford at a site anchored by the former Hartford Times building. Final agreements to authorize the move were signed on June 3, 2014, and construction will start in late 2015 or early 2016. Classes are expected to begin as early as fall 2017. 
 
Possible disposition for the current Greater Hartford (i.e., West Hartford) campus might include, but not be limited to, the following or any combination thereof: 
  • Demolition of campus improvements
  • Stabilizing and securing campus buildings and grounds (e.g., mothballing)
  • Reuse by an institute of higher education
  • Reuse and/or redevelopment by a state agency or municipality
  • Redevelopment for commercial and/or residential use
  • No action (remains an active UConn campus).
Considerations include, but are not limited to, the socio-economic linkages with the nearby Bishop's Corner neighborhood and the entire Town of West Hartford; consistency with the local, regional, and state plans of conservation and development; future use and disposal of hazardous materials; campus areas within the floodplain/floodway of Trout Brook; and wetlands.
 
Note: The University received written confirmation from CT Office of Policy and Management that an Environmental Impact Evaluation is not required for the redevelopment of the abandoned Hartford Times office building for educational use (LINK to letter).
 
Project Maps:  Click here to view a map of the project area. Click here to view a map of the existing campus. 
 
There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this proposed action at:
 
Date:    August 12, 2014

Time:   7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)

Place:   Zachs Community Room, School of Social Work Building, UConn Greater Hartford Campus, 1798 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, CT
Directions:       (link to Google Maps for directions)
 
Written comments from the public on the nature and extent of the possible listed actions are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  August 17, 2014.
 
Written comments should be sent to:

Name: Jason Coite

Agency: University of Connecticut

Address: 31 LeDoyt Road, Storrs, CT

Fax: 860-486-5477

E-Mail: jason.coite@uconn.edu

If you have questions about the Public Scoping Meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:

Name: Jason Coite

Agency: University of Connecticut

Address: 31 LeDoyt Road, Storrs, CT

Phone:  860-486-9305

Fax: 860-486-5477

E-Mail: jason.coite@uconn.edu

2. Notice of Scoping for Old Lyme Coastal Wastewater Management Plan

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Old Lyme

Addresses of Possible Project Locations:  Shoreline communities located south of and along Route 156 between White Sand Beach Association and Old Lyme Shores Beach Association, and the Route 156 corridor to East Lyme

Project Description: The Town of Old Lyme, and the Old Lyme Shores, Old Colony Beach and Miami Beach Associations have conducted independent engineering studies showing that the prevalent conditions in the project area such as the age and location of existing onsite wastewater treatment systems, high density of development, lack of adequate space and overall challenging subsurface conditions, such as shallow groundwater, have rendered the onsite wastewater treatment systems economically and technically unfeasible for long term wastewater renovation. For this reason, the Town of Old Lyme is joining efforts with three chartered beach associations (Miami Beach, Old Colony Beach and Old Lyme Shores) to implement a holistic and long term solution that addresses identified wastewater management concerns within the boundaries of the described shoreline area.

The proposed solution would incorporate the installation of sanitary sewers within the following beach communities: White Sand Beach Association, Hawks Nest, Miami Beach Association, Sound View, Old Colony Beach Association and Old Lyme Shores Beach Association. It would also incorporate the installation of pump station(s) and transmission line to collect wastewater from the mentioned communities and transport it eastward along Route 156 to the town of East Lyme where it would be discharged into existing regional conveyance infrastructure for final treatment at the Piacenti Wastewater Treatment Facility in the City of New London. Once all connections into the proposed sanitary sewer system are completed, it is estimated that 1,350 existing dwelling units will be served by the proposed infrastructure generating approximately 300,000 gallons of wastewater on an average daily basis.

Project Maps:  Click here to view the areas to be sewered.  
                      Click here to view the sewer route in Old Lyme. 
                      Click here to view the existing conveyance system.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on August 22, 2014.

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 1, 2014.

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

Name: Carlos Esguerra
Agency: Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse
Address: 79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127 
Phone: 860-424-3756
Fax: 860-424-4067
E-Mail: carlos.esguerra@ct.gov

If you have questions about a public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact Mr. Esguerra, as directed above.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Any person with a disability who may need a communication aid or service may contact the agency's ADA Coordinator at 860-424-3194 or at deep.hrmed@ct.gov.  Any person with limited proficiency in English, who may need information in another language, may contact the agency's Title VI Coordinator at 860-424-3035 or at deep.aaoffice@ct.gov.  ADA or Title VI discrimination complaints may be filed with DEEP’s EEO Manager at (860) 424-3035 or at deep.aaoffice@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 New Britain Infrastructure/Roadway Improvements along Route 71

Municipality where project will be located: New Britain

CEPA Determination:  On May 20, 2014 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 received comments from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Department of Public Health and Office of Policy and Management. 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 agency's conclusion is documented in an Environmental Assessment Checklist and 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.

2. Post-Scoping Notice for Marlborough Center Water Main

Municipality where project will be located: Marlborough

CEPA Determination:  On April 8, 2014 the Department of Public Health (DPH) published a Notice of Scoping  to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor. 

Based upon the comments provided by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), dated May 8, 2014and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) dated May 2, 2014 and June 11, 2014, it has been determined that the project does not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.  The DPH will coordinate with the Town of Marlborough to ensure that the recommendations of the DEEP will be implemented 

The agency’s conclusion is documented in a Memorandum of Findings and Determination and an Environmental Assessment Summary.

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

Name:

 Mr. Eric McPhee

Agency:

 Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Section

Address:

 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #51WAT
P O Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308

Phone:

 860-509-7333

Fax:

 860-509-7359

E-Mail:

 dph.sourceprotection@ct.gov

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

 
 
 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).

The following Environmental Impact Evaluation  has been submitted for publication in this edition.
1. Notice of EIE for the National Coast Guard Museum Pedestrian Overpass Project

Municipality where project is proposed: New London

Address of Possible Project Location: Waterfront Park, New London, CT

Project Description: The State of Connecticut has committed to provide financial assistance for the construction of a pedestrian bridge overpass that will be integral to the success of the U.S. National Coast Guard Museum Project, access to the site, and overall improvement to New London’s regional intermodal transportation center. State funds may also be used for ancillary work associated with the project, including property purchases, feasibility studies, traffic redesigns and other necessary project components.

The Proposed Action is the construction of a pedestrian overpass bridge which would extend from the south side of the Water Street Garage on the northern side of Parade Plaza and then extend over Water Street to the Coast Guard Museum entrance and adjacent ferry terminal.  The purpose of the pedestrian overpass bridge is to provide direct access to the Coast Guard Museum, improve access to the Cross Sound Ferry terminal, provide direct access to the train platforms, and provide improved access to public parking.

EIE: Click here to view the EIE.

Comments on this EIE will be accepted until the close of business on: August 25, 2014

The public can view a copy of this EIE at:

New London City Clerk’s Office
181 State Street. First Floor
New London, CT 06320

There is a public hearing scheduled for this EIE on:

DATE: August 7, 2014

TIME: 6:00 PM

PLACE: New London Union Station, 27 Water Street, New London, CT 06320

Send your comments about this EIE to:

Name: Nelson Tereso
Agency: Department of Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
E-Mail: Nelson.G.Tereso@ct.gov

If you have questions about the public hearing, or where you can review this EIE, or similar matters, please contact:

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