Environmental Monitor

December 5, 2017

  1.  Wastewater Facilities Plan, Fairfield
  2.  Naugatuck Industrial Park Expansion Project, Naugatuck / Waterbury
  3.  University of Connecticut Main Campus Parking Replacement Project, Mansfield
  4.  University of Connecticut Northwest Science Quad Improvements, Mansfield
  1.  NEW! Waterbury Water Pollution Control Comprehensive Facility Evaluation, Waterbury
  2.  NEW! Bridgeport Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan Update, Bridgeport
 
     No Environmental Impact Evaluation has been submitted for review and comment.
 
 
     No proposed Land Transfer has been submitted for publication in this edition.
 
The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on December 19, 2017.
 
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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 Wastewater Facilities Plan for the Town of Fairfield

Project Title: Wastewater Facility Plan

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Fairfield

Project Location: One Rod Highway, Fairfield

Project Description: The Wastewater Facility Plan proposes improvements to the town's wastewater treatment infrastructure.  The Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) has a design annual average flow rate of 9 million gallons per day (MGD) and a peak flow rate of 24 MGD and currently processes an annual average flow rate of 8.64 MGD with peaks over 33 MGD. The WPCF was originally constructed in 1950 and was expanded in 1968 and 1972 to meet the needs of a growing town and expansion of the sewer collection system.  Additions were made in 1980 to improve bio-solids dewatering and a composting facility for beneficial reuse of plant sludge was added in 1988.  In 1996 and 2002, modifications to the plant's aeration system were completed to allow the plant to achieve nitrogen removal per the permit.  In the past 5 years, flows have been increasing and the WPCF has been receiving flows greater than 90% of the design flow rate for the previous 180 days consistently since Aprils 2017 and intermittently prior to that.

The study evaluated alternatives for providing improvements to the existing WPCF to meet the long-term needs of the town.  The evaluation considered current regulatory requirements, the age and condition of the existing equipment, the capacity of existing unit processes to meet projected flows and loads, and process reliability.  Major components recommended in the plan include the following:

  • Improvements to preliminary and primary treatment facilities including the replacement of the mechanical bar screens, installation of screenings grinder/washer/ compactors, construction of new aerated grit tanks and a grit washer, a new raw sewage pump station, process and structural improvements to the primary structures to improve flow splitting to the primary settling tanks and to the Zone A aeration tanks. 
  • Improvements to the secondary treatment processes, including modifications to the aeration system by converting the Zone A tanks to three train operation, structural modification to facilitate the passing and removal of scum, installation of three new aeration blowers, optimization of aeration controls and methanol feed, replacement of mechanisms and drives in the final settling tanks, and improvements to process reliability and improved energy efficiency. 
  • Improvements to effluent disinfection and pumping including installation of new UV disinfection in a second redundant channel, new outfall pumps to handle peak hour flows and a new plant water system.
  • Improvements to the solids handling system to account for increased flows and loadings including the installation of two screw presses, a mixing system in the secondary digester, new pumps, piping, boilers, and heat exchanger in the primary digester, a new cover on the secondary digester and two new sludge storage tanks for use during periods of high loadings to maintain the required SRT in the digesters.
  • Improvements to the compost facility to improve operator health and safety concerns including installation of negative aeration to reduce emissions within the building and new process and electrical equipment.
  • Improvements to existing Building Systems including modifications to the existing Control Building to address HVAC control issues, upgrades to specific HVAC equipment to replace items that are approaching their service life or are currently inoperable, and addressing code-related ventilation, egress and electrical classification issues in specific spaces such as the Primary Settling Tanks, Dewatering Building, Return Sludge Pump Room and Control Building.
  • Improvements to the Control Building including expansion to the men's locker room, lavatory and break room.
  • Upgrading the instrumentation and controls and SCADA system.
  • Replacing the older electrical distribution equipment that was constructed prior tot he 2000 upgrade and modifying the remaining electrical distribution system as required based on process modifications to the facility.
  • Install new odor control systems for all process areas and refurbish Biofilter B to be maintained for the compost building exhaust.

Draft Facilities Plan: View the draft Town of Fairfield Wastewater Facilities Plan.

Project MapLocation map of the Town of Fairfield WPCF.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on December 7, 2017.  

There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this project:

DATENovember 15, 2017

TIME: 7:30pm

PLACE: Sullivan Independence Hall, 1st Floor Conference Room, 725 Old Post Road, Fairfield

NOTES: 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.accomodations@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.  Any person needing a hearing accommodation may call the State of Connecticut relay number -711. Requests for accommodations must be made at least two weeks prior to any hearing, program, or event.

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

Name: Ann A. Straut
Agency: DEEP Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse, Water Planning and Management Division
Address:   79 Elm Street, Hartford CT 06106-5127
Phone: (860) 424-3137
Fax: (860) 424-4067
E-Mail: ann.straut@ct.gov

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

Name: Ann A. Straut
Agency: DEEP Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse, Water Planning and Management Division
Address:   79 Elm Street, Hartford CT 06106-5127
Phone: (860) 424-3137
Fax: (860) 424-4067
E-Mail: ann.straut@ct.gov

 If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, please contact Ms. Straut as directed above.  


2. Notice of Scoping for  Greater Waterbury-Naugatuck Valley Regional Industrial Park Expansion Project

Municipalityies where proposed project might be located:  Naugatuck/Waterbury

Address of Possible Project Location:  0 Great Hill Road, Naugatuck, CT

Project Description:  The Waterbury Development Corporation, on behalf of the City of Waterbury, is requesting up to $2.8M in Urban Act funding for the construction & extension of roadway & utilities from the existing Naugatuck Industrial Park into Waterbury.  The Naugatuck Industrial Park is located in Naugatuck near the southern border of Waterbury, along Routes 8 & 68, across the street from the Naugatuck River and the Metro-North Waterbury Line, and is home to 49 companies. 

The City of Waterbury owns 163 acres of land adjacent to the Industrial Park with 57 of those acres actually lying within Naugatuck.  Approximately 60 acres of this property is relatively flat and suitable for development, but it is located at the highest elevation of the property that is not easily accessible from Waterbury.  Currently the only access to this land from Waterbury lies along South Main Street but this option has proven to be cost prohibitive due to the property's steep grades.  A concept of a regional economic development project involving the current Naugatuck Industrial Park and the adjacent City of Waterbury owned land has been agreed by both the City of Waterbury and Borough of Naugatuck.  In order to provide access from Naugatuck, both the Waterbury Development Corporation and Borough of Naugatuck purchased an undeveloped 10 acre lot within the Industrial Park in order to provide the land needed for an access roadway with utilities to be extended from Naugatuck. 

With the goal of unlocking the economic potential of Waterbury’s land, alternate approaches have been studied but it has become clear that if access to the Waterbury owned 163 acres of land could be achieved via the Naugatuck Industrial Park, rather than the South Main street Waterbury approach, this property would become economically attractive for development.  Please refer to the proposed Conceptual Layouts.

Project MapClick 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:  December 7th. 

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 November 17th.

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

Name: Nelson Tereso
Agency: CT Dept. of Economic and Community Development 
Address:   450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford CT 06103
Phone: (860) 500-2322
E-Mail: nelson.g.tereso@ct.gov

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

Name: Nelson Tereso
Agency: CT Dept. of Economic and Community Development
Address:   450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford CT 06103
Phone: (860) 500-2322
E-Mail: nelson.g.tereso@ct.gov

3. Notice of Scoping for University of Connecticut Main Campus Parking Replacement Project

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Mansfield

Address of Possible Project Location: W Lot between State Route 195 and Tower Loop Road, and undeveloped land known as Parcel D along Discovery Drive on the University of Connecticut Storrs Campus

Project Description:

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is proposing construction of up to 1000 parking spaces through the construction of up to two elevated parking decks above a portion of W Lot and a new surface lot in Parcel D, connected to each other by a restricted access drive for buses, service, and emergencies. This project is consistent with parking priorities identified in the UConn Master Plan, including replacing spaces that are lost to new construction, prioritize decks (2-3 levels) with small footprints instead of large garages, limiting parking in the campus core and supporting a robust shuttle system. The construction of this parking within the North Campus replaces other parking to be lost within the North Campus as a result of new construction.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  Friday, December 22, 2017

Public Scoping Meeting will be held for this project at:

DATE: Thursday, December 7, 2017
TIME: 7:00 pm. (Doors will be open at 6:30 pm.)

PLACE: Konover Auditorium at the Dodd Center, 405 Babbidge Road, Unit 1205
Storrs, CT 06269-1205. The closest public parking is in the South Garage, 2366 Jim Calhoun Way, Storrs, CT 06269. Adjacent to the UConn Bookstore.

NOTES:

To watch live go to this link for live-stream.  Or go to http://ait.uconn.edu/live-streaming/; find the date and time for the event on the calendar; and choose the link based on the description on the calendar information.

Written comments should be sent to:

           Name:            Paul Ferri, Environmental Compliance Professional

           Agency:         University of Connecticut, Office of Environmental Policy

           Address:        31 LeDoyt Road, Unit 3055, Storrs, CT 06269-3055

           Fax:               (860) 486-5477

           E-Mail:          paul.ferri@uconn.edu

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

           Name:            Paul Ferri, Environmental Compliance Professional

           Agency:         University of Connecticut, Office of Environmental Policy


4. Notice of Scoping for University of Connecticut Northwest Science Quad Improvements

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Mansfield

Address of Possible Project Location: X Lot, Lot L, and Lot 9 and surrounding area south of King Hill Road on the University of Connecticut Storrs Campus, Mansfield, Connecticut

Project Description:

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is proposing to begin construction of the Northwest Science Quad on an approximately 22-acre site located at the northwest edge of campus which includes the existing Lot 9, X-Lot, and L-Lot. The Northwest Science Quad is identified as part of the North Eagleville Science District in the University’s Campus Master Plan and is part of the capital project initiatives in support of Next Generation Connecticut to significantly expand educational opportunities, research, and innovation in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines at UConn. The proposed project consists of the following:

  • Science 1 building (~250,000 sf STEM Research Center
  • Supplemental Utility Plant (SUP) including substation
  • Surface parking
  • Improvements to King Hill Road
  • Possible realignment to Hillside Road and Alumni Drive
  • Northern Woodland Corridor walkway
  • Stormwater and utilities to serve the Northwest Science Quad
  • Utility tunnel from the current Central Utility Plan (CUP) to the proposed SUP.

Science 1 building project will incorporate best practices of sustainability with a minimum goal of LEED Gold certified, with an aspirational goal of certified for the U.S. Green Building Council Sustainable SITES program.

Project Maps: Click here to view a map of the project area.  Click here to view a conceptual map  of the Northwest Science Quad improvements.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business onFriday, December 22, 2017

There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this project at:

DATE: Thursday, December 7, 2017

TIME: 7:00 pm. (Doors will be open at 6:30 pm.)

PLACE: Konover Auditorium at the Dodd Center, 405 Babbidge Road, Unit 1205
Storrs, CT 06269-1205. The closest public parking is in the South Garage, 2366 Jim Calhoun Way, Storrs, CT 06269. Adjacent to the UConn Bookstore.

NOTES:

To watch live go to this link for live-stream.  Or go to http://ait.uconn.edu/live-streaming/; find the date and time for the event on the calendar; and choose the link based on the description on the calendar information.

Written comments should be sent to:

           Name:            Paul Ferri, Environmental Compliance Professional

           Agency:         University of Connecticut, Office of Environmental Policy

           Address:        31 LeDoyt Road, Unit 3055, Storrs, CT 06269-3055

           Fax:               (860) 486-5477

           E-Mail:          paul.ferri@uconn.edu

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

           Name:            Paul Ferri, Environmental Compliance Professional

           Agency:         University of Connecticut, Office of Environmental Policy


 
 
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 City of Waterbury Water Pollution Control

Comprehensive Facility Evaluation

Municipality where project will be located: Waterbury

CEPA Determination:  On November 3, 2015, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection published a Notice of Scoping  to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor.  DEEP received no comments during the scoping notice period.  Based on DEEP's environmental assessment of the project, 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  Memo of Findings and Determination  and Environmental Assessment Checklist.

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

Name:

Ann Straut

Agency:

CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Address:

79 Elm Street, Hartford CT 06106

Phone:

860-424-3137

Fax:

860-424-4067

E-Mail:

Ann.Straut@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.


2. Post-Scoping Notice for City of Bridgeport Combined Sewer Overflow

Long Term Control Plan Update

Municipality where project will be located: Bridgeport

CEPA Determination:  On October 3, 2017,  the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor.  DEEP received no comments during the scoping period. Based on DEEP's environmental assessment of the project, the agency has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of a newly updated Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.

The agency’s conclusion is documented in a Memo of Findings and Determination and Environmental Assessment Checklist.

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

Name:

Catharine Chu

Agency:

CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Address:

79 Elm Street, Hartford CT 06106

Phone:

860-424-3342

Fax:

860-424-4067

E-Mail:

Catharine.Chu@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.


 

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).


No EIE Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.


 
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.
 

No Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.


 
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