Environmental Monitor

July 8, 2014 

  1.    Proposed Disposition of the University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus, West Hartford
  1.    Replacement of Atlantic Street MNRR Bridge, Stamford
  2.    NEW! New Britain Infrastructure/Roadway Improvements Along Route 71, New Britain 
  1.     NEW! 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  July 22, 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 Notice has 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


 
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 Replacement of Atlantic St. MNRR Bridge

Municipality where project will be located: Stamford, CT

CEPA Determination:  On November 5, 2013 the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor.  In addition, a Public Scoping Meeting took place on Tuesday November 19, 2013 at the Government Center in Stamford.  During the comment period CTDOT received comments from the Department of Public Health and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.  Shortly after the close of the comment period, CTDOT received comments from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Historic Neighborhood Preservation Program (HNPP). The CTDOT has taken those comments into consideration and after working closely with the City of Stamford, CT SHPO and the HNPP, CTDOT has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) 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:

Mr. Mark W. Alexander, Transportation Assistant Planning Director

Agency:

Connecticut Department of Transportation

Address:

2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131

Phone:

860-594-2931

E-Mail:  

What happens next: The CTDOT 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 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.


 
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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