Environmental Monitor

March 22, 2016

  1.   North Stonington Water Main Extension, North Stonington Village
  2.   NEW! Environmental Assessment for Off-Airport Tree Obstruction Removal, Windham Airport

 Post-Scoping Notices: Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) Not Required

  1.   Parking Improvements for Pratt and Whitney Field, East Hartford
  2.   Springborn Dam Removal, Enfield
  3.   NEW! The Hamlet on East South St., Suffield
  4.   NEW! Chester / Haddam Prescribed Burn
  1.   NEW! Wildlife Hazard Deterrent Fence, Hartford-Brainard Airport, Hartford and Wethersfield
  1.   1. 380 Pomfret St., Putnam

          
The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on  April 5, 2016.
 
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Notices in the Environmental Monitor are written by the sponsoring agencies and are published unedited. Questions about the content of any notice should be directed to the sponsoring agency.
 

 
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 North Stonington Water Main Extension

Municipality where proposed project might be located: North Stonington

Address of Possible Project Location: Rocky Hollow Road and Wyassup Road

Project DescriptionThe Town of North Stonington has received a Small Town Economic Assistance Grant (STEAP) to extend the public water main within North Stonington Village.  The water main installation will extend 1) from Main Street to the New Emergency Service complex and 2) from the Public Works Garage to the North Stonington Grange.  Upon completion of the project, the system extension will be transferred to the Southeastern Connecticut Water Authority for operation, service and maintenance.

Project MapsPlease click on the links to view the North Stonington STEAP project overview map, and the North Stonington Project Location Map.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Friday, April 8, 2016.

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 Friday, March 18, 2016.

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

Name: Mr. Eric McPhee
Agency:
Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Section
Address: 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #51WAT
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Fax: 860-509-7359
E-Mail: DPH.SourceProtection@ct.gov

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

Name: Patricia Bisacky
Agency:
Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Section
Address:
410 Capitol Avenue, MS #51WAT
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Phone: 860-509-7333
Fax: 860-509-7359
E-Mail: Patricia.Bisacky@ct.gov

2. Notice of Environmental Assessment for the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) –
Off-Airport Tree Obstruction Removal at the Windham Airport

Municipality where project is proposed: Town of Windham.

Address of Possible Project Location: Airport Road, Windham, CT (off of US Route 6).

Project Description: Preparation of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) environmental document as required to evaluate the potential impacts associated with tree obstruction removal in areas surrounding Windham Airport. The evaluation addresses tree obstruction removals associated with Federally-defined airspace surfaces surrounding the airport necessary for the continued safe operation of aircraft. Objects that penetrate these surfaces are classified as obstructions by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The project sponsoring agencies, the Connecticut Aviation Authority (CAA), and FAA have identified that trees penetrate the airspace at Windham Airport, including locations beyond the airport property boundaries. Per FAA practice, review of off-airport obstruction removal should be evaluated and documented via a NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA) and state CEPA Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE). This project includes the identification of each affected property owner and associated parcels (both public and private) with anticipated obstruction removals.

Project Diagram: Project maps can be found at the following location:

http://windhamairport.caa-analysis.com/project-documents/

The EA/EIE can be viewed in person at:

Mansfield Public Library

55 Warrenville Road

Mansfield Center, CT 06250

The EA/EIE can also be found on the study website:

http://windhamairport.caa-analysis.com/project-documents/

Written comments on this EA/EIE will be accepted until the close of business on: Monday, May 31, 2016.   

Written comments should be sent to:

Name:

Mr. Robert J. Bruno, Director of Planning, Engineering, & Environmental

Agency:

Connecticut Airport Authority

Address:

334 Ella Grasso Turnpike, Suite 160

Windsor Locks, CT 06096

Phone:

(860) 254-5516

E-Mail:

environmental@ctairports.org

The CAA is holding an informal Public Information Meeting on Tuesday, March 29th 2016 from 7 to 9 PM, at the Mansfield Public Library in the Buchanan Auditorium (55 Warrenville Road, Mansfield Center, CT 06250). A formal public hearing has not been scheduled.


 
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 Parking Improvements for Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field

Municipality where project will be located: East Hartford

CEPA Determination:  On December 8, 2015 the Office of Policy and Management, Adriaen's Landing/Rentschler Field Project Office published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor.  Comments were received from the Office of Environmental Review of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Intergovernmental Policy Division of the Office of Policy and Management.   The Office of Policy And Management 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 Review and a Memo of Findings and Determination.

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


Name

Phil McLellan

Agency:

Office of Policy & Management

Address:

100 Columbus Boulevard
Suite 501
Hartford, CT 06106

Phone:

860-493-2928

Fax:

E-Mail:

phil.mclellan@ct.gov

What happens next: The [agency] 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 Springborn Dam Removal

Municipality where project will be located: Enfield

CEPA Determination:  On April 21, 2015, the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments concerning this project in the Environmental Monitor.  Comments were received from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) Drinking Water Section.  DEEP will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the SHPO incorporating their recommended mitigation measures. Based on DEEP's environmental assessment of the project and the comments provided, the agency has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.

The agency's conclusion is documented in a Memorandum and an Environmental Assessment Summary.

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

Name:  Jennifer L. Perry, P.E.
Agency:
 Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
 Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse
Address:
 79 Elm Street
 Hartford, CT 06106-5127 
Phone:  860-424-3802
Fax:  860-424-4075
E-Mail: jennifer.perry@ct.gov 

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

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.  Please contact us at (860) 418-5910 or deep.accommodations@ct.gov if you: have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint.


3. Post-Scoping Notice for The Hamlet on East South St.

Municipality where project will be located: Suffield

CEPA Determination:  On October 20, 2015 the Depatment of Housing (DOH) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental MonitorThe DOH received comments from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Department of Public Health. The DOH 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 a Memo of Findings and Determination and an Environmental Assessment Checklist.

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

Name:

Helen Muniz

Agency:

Department of Housing

Address:

505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106

Phone:

860-270-8023

Fax:

860 270-8032

E-Mail:

helen.muniz@ct.gov

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


4. Post-Scoping Notice for Chester/Haddam Prescribed Burn

Municipality where project will be located: Chester & Haddam

CEPA Determination:  On February 2, 2016, the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments concerning this project in the Environmental Monitor.  Comments were received from the Department of Public Health (DPH) Drinking Water Section and the Connecticut Water Company.  Responses to the comments are included in the Environmental Assessment Summary. Based on DEEP's environmental assessment of the project and the comments provided, the agency has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.

The agency's conclusion is documented in a Memorandum and an Environmental Assessment Summary.

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

Name:  Emery Gluck, Forester
Agency:
 Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
 Bureau of Natural Resources
Address:
 Cockaponset State Forest
 18 Ranger Road, Haddam, CT 06438 
Phone:  860-345-8522
E-Mail: emery.gluck@ct.gov 


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

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.  Please contact us at (860) 418-5910 or deep.accommodations@ct.gov if you: have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint.


 
 
 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 EIE Notice has been submitted for review and comment.

 

1. Notice of EIE for Wildlife Hazard Deterrent Fence at Hartford-Brainard Airport

Project TitleConnecticut Airport Authority (CAA) Installation of a Wildlife Deterrent Fence

Municipalities where project is proposedCity of Hartford, Town of Wethersfield

Address of Possible Project LocationHartford – Brainard Airport, Maxim Road, Hartford, CT

Project Description: This DRAFT Environmental Assessment (EA)/Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) was prepared to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) to address potential impacts associated with the installation of a wildlife deterrent fence while providing the opportunity for public involvement and comments, since the project is partially funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).  The airport is a public-use General Aviation airport located entirely in the City of Hartford, Connecticut owned and operated by the CAA.  All action alternatives were found to not be reasonable, feasible or practicable upon preliminary review, and the project will not be implemented at this time.

The purpose of the project was to enclose the entire Hartford-Brainard Airport with an 8 foot chain link fence with a 3 foot horizontal burrowing deterrent chain link “skirt” attached to the bottom and 3 strands of barbed wire on the top, in accordance with FAA specifications. The need for the proposed project is to protect aircraft and their passengers from hazardous conditions at the airport as a result of medium to large sized wildlife, including deer, coyote, raccoons and woodchuck, from entering the airport property.  The airport is currently surrounded on the three landward sides by a wildlife fence.  The project would have included inspection of and repairs to this fence, as well as the installation of additional fencing along a portion of the airport abutting Clark Dike and the Connecticut River.

Project Map of proposed action and alternatives: http://public.ctairports.org/dl/HFD-Wildlife_Fence/Plan/.  Click here to view a map of the project area.

Written comments on this DRAFT EIE will be accepted until the close of business onMay 6, 2016.

The public can view a copy of the DRAFT EIE at: http://public.ctairports.org/dl/HFD-Wildlife_Fence/Report/.

Written comments about this DRAFT EIE should be sent to:

Name: Mr. Robert J. Bruno, Director of Planning, Engineering & Environmental
Agency:

Connecticut Airport Authority

Address: 334 Ella Grasso Turnpike, Suite 160, Windsor Locks, CT 06096
E-Mail: environmental@ctairports.org

If you have questions on where you can review this DRAFT EIE, or similar matters, please contact:

Name: Mr. Robert J. Bruno, Director of Planning, Engineering & Environmental
Agency: Connecticut Airport Authority
Address: 334 Ella Grasso Turnpike, Suite 160, Windsor Locks, CT 06096
E-Mail: environmental@ctairports.org
Phone: (860) 254-5516

A formal public hearing as not been scheduled.  The sponsoring agency (CAA) will hold a public hearing on the draft evaluation if twenty-five persons, or if an association having not less than twenty-five persons, requests such a hearing within ten days of the publication of this notice in the Environmental Monitor, April 1, 2016.


 
State Land Transfer Notices

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 process.


The Following State Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.


 
1. Notice of Proposed Transfer of Land in Putnam

 

Complete Address of Property: 380 Pomfret Street, Putnam, CT

Commonly used name of property or other identifying information:  "Putnam Group Home"

Number of acres to be transferred: 1.00 +/-

Click to view map of property location (6 MB)

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: Has only been used as a Group Home.  The main house is approximately 4,000 SF and has a detached garage of approximately 500 SF.  The proposed 1-acre parcel will need to be split from the current parcel, which is the CT DDS Putnam Satellite Office. 

The property to be transferred contains the following:

 Structures:         Buildings in use   x    Buildings not in use       No Structures 
 Other Features:     Wooded land     Nonagricultural fields     Active agriculture
   x  Paved areas      Ponds, streams, other water, wetlands
 Water Supply:      Public water supply    On-site well   x  Unknown
 Waste Disposal:     Served by sewers    On-site septic system  x  Unknown

Click to view aerial view of property (3 MB)

The property is in the following municipal zone(s):

      Residential        Industrial       Commercial        Institutional
 x  Other:  Medical/Office Development District
   Not zoned     Not known

 

Special features of the property, if known: None

Value of property, if known:

  x   If checked, value is not known.

Links to other available information

Type of Sale or Transfer:

  x   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:

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

Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property:  The subject property is no longer needed by the State.

Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on April 7, 2016.

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

Please also send a copy of the comments to:

       Shane Mallory, DAS
      165 Capitol Ave, G-1
      Hartford, CT 06106
      shane.mallory@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.


 
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