April 18, 2017
- Removal of United Pond Dam and City Pond Dam, Griswold
- Bunker Hill Water Main Extension, Watertown
- Public Hearings for the EIE for Tree Obstruction Removal at Hartford Brainard Airport
- NEW! State Office Building Redevelopment, Hartford
"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.
1. Notice of Scoping for United Pond Dam and City Pond Dam Removal
Address of Project Location: Dams are located on the Pachaug River in Jewett City at Slater Road and the intersection of Water Avenue.
Project Description: United Pond Dam (aka Lower Slater Pond) and City Pond Dam (aka Upper Slater Mill Pond) are run of the river dams on the Pachaug River. United Pond Dam is a concrete dam with concrete face, 120 feet long and 8.8 feet high. The spillway is 78 feet long and 3.2 feet high. City Pond Dam is an earthen embankment dam 200 feet long and 28 feet high with a spillway that is 110 feet long with a stone masonry vertical face.
It is the goal of the Department to remove the dams in order to eliminate a public safety risk and eliminate another migratory barrier to diadromous fish by restoring a stretch of free-flowing river. Contaminated sediments in the impoundment will be identified and excavated prior to dam removal.
Project objectives include:
· Eliminate a public safety risk
· Eliminate a migratory barrier to diadromous fish
· Remove contaminated sediment from the river to eliminate exposure hazard to recreationalists and downstream residents (in the event of dam failure) and strengthen the long-term resiliency of the aquatic organisms
· Restore natural riverine functions (e.g. sediment transport, restoration of floodplain functions and values, maintenance of normal thermal regimes, re-establishment of natural riverine vegetative communities).
Project Maps: View a map of the project location.
View pictures of the dams.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: May 4, 2017.
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 Department of Energy & Environmental Protection will schedule a Public Scoping Meeting. Such requests must be made by April 17, 2017.
Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:
| Name: | Dan Biron |
| Agency: | Department of Energy & Environmental Protection |
| Water Management and Planning Division | |
| Address: | 79 Elm Street |
| Hartford, CT 06106-5127 | |
| Phone: | 860-424-3892 |
| Fax: | 860-424-4067 |
| E-Mail: | dan.biron@ct.gov |
If you have questions about a public meeting, or other questions about the project or scoping, contact Mr. Biron 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.
2. Notice of Scoping for Bunker Hill Water Main Extension
Municipality where proposed project might be located: Watertown
Addresses of Possible Project Locations: Concord Drive, Cornwall Drive, Lake Winnemaug, and Farmdale Road & Barnes Road
Project Description: The Town of Watertown is proposing a water main extension project to serve the residential homes located in four areas including the Concord Drive area, the Cornwall Drive area, the Lake Winnemaug area, and the Farmdale and Barnes Road area. The entire project is proposed to be undertaken in four phases. Phase 1 includes the Concord Drive Area as shown in the map accompanying this notice of scoping. This water main extension project is supported in the most recent Water Supply Plan approved by the DPH.
A number of private wells in the project area were identified in the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) as having drinking water that contains E. Coli., coliform bacteria, and traces of Methyl Teriary Butyl Ether. In addition, the levels of turbidity, color, pH, iron and hardness of the well water do not conform to the acceptable limits established in State Drinking Water Quality Standards. Records provided by the Torrington Area Health District (TAHD) indicate that numerous houses have Leaking Underground Storage Tanks. There are several wells located around the Lake Winnemaug area that do not conform to the sanitary separation distances to probable sources of contamination established in Section 19-13-B51d of the Public Health Code. In response to inquiries by Watertown Water and Sewer staff, area residents reported water quantity issues during the summer of 2016 including low recharge rates and periods of loss of water. As noted in the letter dated July 14, 2014 from the TAHD, the proposed water main extension is being supported by the health district.
This water quality deterioration has been attributed to substandard septic systems installed on small lots with shallow bedrock, poor quality soils and seasonal high ground water as documented by TAHD. The recommended action in the PER is to extend a water main to the project area to provide a safe and adequate drinking water supply and allow the homeowners to properly abandon the on-site private wells. The Town is also extending its existing sewer system to serve the project area. The DEEP published a Notice of Scoping for the first phase of the sewer expansion on February 7, 2017. The DPH has been communicating with the DEEP in regards to coordinating the two projects.
The PER identifies several options to resolve the water quality and quantity issues that include redevelopment of existing wells (hydrofracking), deepening of wells, individual treatment installation (point of use), and installation of a stand-alone community water system. Because of the area’s proximity to centralized public water infrastructure, the alternative of extending public water mains and abandoning the on-site drinking water wells was determined to be the most economical action to achieve the desired public health benefit.
Watertown is currently seeking financial assistance under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program to cover the project cost for the extension of water main to serve Concord Drive area. Approximately 89 residential homes currently served by private wells with water quality and quantity issues will receive safe and adequate drinking water. The proposed Concord Drive area water main extension project will comprise of installation of new water main that will be connected to the existing distribution main of the Watertown Water and Sewer Authority located near the intersection of Bunker Hill Road and Davis Street Extension. The new main will run southwest along Bunker Hill Road and branch to Revere Drive and Mystic Lane. The 12-inch diameter pipe will be installed along Bunker Hill Road while 8-inch diameter pipe will be used along the secondary roads (Revere Drive, Mystic Lane, Concord Drive, and Lexington Drive). The water main has been minimally sized to provide adequate domestic water supply and satisfy fire protection requirements specified by the Town Fire Marshall for all 4 phases of the project.
Project Map: Click here to view a map of the project area.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: May 5, 2017.
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 April 14, 2017.
Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to
| Name: | Mr. Eric McPhee |
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Department of Public Health |
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410 Capitol Avenue, MS #12DWS |
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| 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 |
|
Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Section
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|
|
410 Capitol Avenue, MS #12DWSPO Box 340308 |
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| Phone: | 860-509-7333 |
| Fax: | 860-509-7359 |
| E-Mail: | Patricia.Bisacky@ct.gov |
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).
1. Notice of Public Hearings for
Environmental Impact Evaluation and Environmental Assessment
Re: Tree Obstruction Removal at Hartford-Brainard Airport
Municipality where project is proposed: The Harford-Brainard Airport is located in the City of Hartford approximately two miles southeast of Downtown Hartford, CT.
Address of possible Project Location: The Airport office is located at 251 Maxim Road, just east of Interstate 91 and west of the Connecticut River.
Project Description: Preparation of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) environmental documents as required to evaluate the potential impacts associated with tree obstruction removal in areas on, as well as north, south, east and west of the Hartford-Brainard Airport. The evaluation addresses obstruction removals associated with Federally-defined airspace surfaces surrounding the airport needed for the continued safe operation of aircraft. Objects that penetrate these surfaces are classified as obstructions, and should be removed to safely accommodate approaching and departing aircraft.
The project sponsoring agencies, the Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), have identified that trees penetrate the airspace at the Airport, including locations beyond the southern airport property boundary. Per FAA and CAA 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.
The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) will be holding three (3) Public Hearings on the Hartford-Brainard Airport draft Federal Environmental Assessment (EA) and State Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) for Tree Clearing. At these meetings, information on the overall project and the study’s findings, including the Preferred Alternative, will be presented. The doors for all meetings will open at 6:30 PM with each public hearing beginning at 7:00 PM.
Public Hearings will be held at the following locations on the specified dates:
Meeting 1- Hartford:
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Bulkeley High School (300 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford, CT 06114)
Meeting 2- Glastonbury:
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Glastonbury Town Hall, Council Chambers (2155 Main St., Glastonbury, CT 06033)
Meeting 3-Wethersfield:
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Wethersfield Town Hall (505 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, CT 06109)
NOTES: Free language assistance or sign interpretation may be requested by contacting Colin Goegel at the address below at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting. Efforts will be made to respond to requests for assistance.
The public can view a copy of the draft EIE/EA on the project website at: http://hartfordairport.caa-analysis.com/, and at the following locations:
Hartford Public Library
500 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06103
Wethersfield Public Library
515 Silas Deane Hwy
Wethersfield, CT 06109
East Hartford Public Library
840 Main Street
East Hartford, CT 06108
Welles-Turner Memorial Library
2407 Main Street
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Send your comments or questions about the draft EIE/EA: 1) via the project website listed above, or 2) to Mr. Colin Goegel at the mailing address or e-mail below:
Name: Mr. Colin Goegel, Supervising Engineer
Agency: Connecticut Airport Authority
334 Ella Grasso Turnpike, Suite 160
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Phone: (860) 254-5628
E-Mail: cgoegel@ctairports.org
Comments on the draft EIE/EA will be accepted until the close of business on:
Monday, May 22, 2017.
2. Notice of EIE forState Office Building Redevelopment (BI-2B-381)
Municipality where project is proposed: Hartford
Address of Possible Project Location(s): 165 Capitol Avenue and 309 Buckingham Street, Hartford
- A complete interior renovation of the existing 321,493 gross square foot State Office Building (SOB) which was built in 1931, restoration and renovation of the building exterior, renovation of the central exterior courtyard, and reconfiguration of the existing building entrances. Site work includes the creation of a landscaped plaza, redevelopment of existing perimeter streetscape and redevelopment of the existing surface parking lot. The renovation would support a similar number of employees (approximately 900) as the current use.
- Demolition of the existing 450-car parking structure and the 309 Buckingham Trade ("maintenance") Shop located at the corner of Washington and Buckingham Streets,* with construction of an approximate new 1,050-space parking structure. An option under consideration is to provide retail space along Washington Street as part of the overall parking structure. The remaining green space at the corner of Washington and Buckingham Streets would be a landscaped park-like area.
Project Map(s): Click here to view the general location (1.1 MB). Click here to view a figure of the project area (6.1 MB). Click here to view the site plan(213 KB)
Comments on this EIE will be accepted until the close of business on: June 2, 2017
No public hearing is scheduled for this EIE. A public hearing request must be made by twenty-five persons or an association having not less than twenty-five persons. Such requests must be made by the close of business on and no later than April 28, 2017 by 5:00 pm.
Send your comments about this EIE to:
| Name: | Jeff Bolton, Supervising Environmental Analyst |
| Agency: | Department of Administrative Services |
| Address: | 450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 1305, Hartford, Connecticut 06103 |
| E-Mail: | Jeffrey.bolton@ct.gov |
| Name: | Jeff Bolton, Supervising Environmental Analyst |
| Agency: | Department of Administrative Services |
| Address: | 450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 1305, Hartford, Connecticut 06103 |
| E-Mail: | Jeffrey.bolton@ct.gov |
| Phone: | 860-713-5706 |
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.
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