January 18, 2022
- Notice of Scoping for Suffield Wildlife Management Area Prescribed Burn, Suffield.
- NEW! Notice of Scoping for the Reconfiguration of Route 17 On-Ramp to Route 9 Northbound, Middletown.
Scoping Notice - Post-Scoping Notice (Need More Time)
- Notice of Time Extension for Post Scoping Notice for Interchange Improvements to I-91, I-691, and Route 15, Meriden/Middletown.
No Post-Scoping Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE)
No EIE Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
No Record of Decision Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
No Determination of Adequacy Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
No State Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on February 8, 2022.
Subscribe to e-alerts to receive an e-mail when the Environmental Monitor is published.
Inquiries and requests to view or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to the sponsoring state agency.
Scoping Notice
"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. Read More
1. Notice of Scoping for Suffield Wildlife Management Area Prescribed Burn
Address of possible location: 510 Point Grove Road, West Suffield CT 06093
Municipality where proposed action might be located: Suffield CT
Project Description: The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Wildlife and Forestry Divisions aim to manage vegetation using prescribed fire within portions of Suffield Wildlife Management Area (Suffield WMA), a state-owned natural area managed for wildlife conservation and wildlife-based recreation. Burning operations may occur annually. In 2022, DEEP proposes to conduct a prescribed burn during Feb 1 to April 15, 2022, when weather conditions permit. This prescribed burn will encompass 49.5 acres of grassland and will take one or two days to complete. The operation will be conducted under the direction of qualified fire professionals when weather and atmospheric conditions allow. The Suffield WMA will be closed to the public during the operation of the prescribed fire. Prior to the burn, the Suffield Fire Department and the Town of Suffield will be notified. A notice will sent be sent to the Town Hall on the day of the burn and signage will be posted at the Suffield WMA to notify the public.
The overall goal of prescribed fire in all units is to sustain and enhance sandplain grassland habitat, an underrepresented natural community that many wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need rely on to survive and reproduce. Prescribed fire is an effective management tool to maintain and enhance grassland habitat. Following prescribed burn, and the resulting consumption of the aboveground biomass, new vegetation will grow soon after and the entire site will be revegetated. Expected long-term changes to vegetation within burned areas is an increase in percent composition of warm season grasses, an increase in percent composition of exposed mineral soil, and a decrease in percent composition of forbs and woody trees/shrubs. The project site will remain an undeveloped natural area following management activities. Prescribed burning may occur here during August 15 to April 15 annually; the public notification process will remain unchanged in future years.
Project Map: Click here for a map of the project area. The grassland areas of Suffield WMA are divided into management units labeled A through F to better compartmentalize management actions. Units proposed to be burned in spring 2022 are Units C,D, & F (49.5 acres).
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Monday, January 31, 2022.
There will be a public scoping meeting for this proposed action:
DATE: January 24, 2022
TIME: 4:00 pm
PLACE: Virtual meeting- Video Conference
NOTES: Join Zoom Meeting
https://ctdeep.zoom.us/j/99392724878?pwd=bTcrM3F0Q2pLUjNNemRmelBqVXFtdz09
Meeting ID: 993 9272 4878
Passcode: 906716
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,99392724878# US (Chicago)
+16468769923,,99392724878# US (New York)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 993 9272 4878
Additional information about the project can be viewed in person at DEEP Eastern District Headquarters Marlborough at 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough CT and online at: DEEP Wildlife Division Habitat Program Webpage.
Written comments should be sent to:
Name: Tanner Steeves
Agency: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
Address: 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough CT 06447
E-Mail: tanner.steeves@ct.gov
If you have questions about the public scoping meeting or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:
Name: Tanner Steeves
Agency: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
Address: 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough CT 06447
E-Mail: tanner.steeves@ct.gov
Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to the sponsoring state agency:
Name: Tanner Steeves
Agency: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
Address: 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough CT 06447
E-Mail: Tanner.Steeves@ct.gov
What Happens Next: The sponsoring agency will make a determination whether to proceed with preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) or that the project does not require the preparation of an EIE under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). A Post-Scoping Notice of its decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.
2. Notice of Scoping for the Reconfiguration of Route 17 On-Ramp to Route 9 Northbound
Address of possible location: The project is located on Route 17 between Log Mile 21.65 and 22.50. Route 9 overlaps Route 17 through a portion of this project between Log Mile 23.46 to 23.90. Main Street Extension is a local roadway located south of downtown Main Street. Union Street, River Road and Harbor Drive are also local roadways and provide access to Harbor Park and waterfront properties. See link to location map below.
Municipality where proposed action might be located: Middletown
Project Description: The purpose of the project is to reduce rear-end crashes at the Route 9 Northbound and Route 17 Northbound interchange. The project is needed because the existing stop-controlled on-ramp from Route 17 onto Route 9 Northbound has a crash rate significantly higher than similar adjacent freeway segments.
The proposed work includes providing a full-length acceleration lane for Route 17 Northbound traffic to merge onto Route 9 north. Reconstruction of Bridge No. 00638, which carries Route 9 over Union Street, will enable widening the structure to the west as well as addressing maintenance concerns. The proposed acceleration lane will require realignment of Route 9 as well as the closure of the Harbor Drive on-ramp onto Route 9.
After closure of the Harbor Drive on-ramp, the Main Street Extension and Route 17 interchange will serve as primary access to Route 9 for the southern section of downtown Middletown. Proposed improvements at Route 17 and Main Street Extension include adding dedicated turn lanes to Main Street Extension and the Route 17 off-ramps. The Route 17 Southbound off-ramp will be realigned and signalized to create a more typical intersection configuration. New sidewalks will be added to the east side of Main Street Extension to increase pedestrian connectivity. Additionally, a noise wall is anticipated along the Route 17 Northbound on-ramp from Main Street Extension.
Project Map: Click here to view a map of the project area.
Project Plans: Click here to view preliminary project plans.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: Friday February 18, 2022
Any person may ask the sponsoring agency to hold a public scoping meeting by sending such a request to the address below. If a public scoping 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 January 28, 2022.
Other Information: This project was reviewed for impacts to cultural resources and its was determined that the proposed action will result in No Historic Properties Affected.
Written comments and/or requests for a public scoping meeting should be sent to (E-Mail preferred):
Name: Kevin Fleming, Transportation Planner
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Bureau of Policy and Planning
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131
E-Mail: Kevin.Fleming@ct.gov
If you have questions about the scoping for this project, contact (E-Mail preferred):
Name: Salvatore Aresco, P.E., Project Manager
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Office of Engineering and Construction
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131
Phone: 860-594-3239
E-Mail: Salvatore.Aresco@ct.gov
Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to the sponsoring state agency:
Name: Ms. Alice M. Sexton
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Office of Legal Services
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131
Phone: 860-594-3045
E-Mail: Alice.Sexton@ct.gov
What Happens Next: The sponsoring agency will make a determination whether to proceed with preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) or that the project does not require the preparation of an EIE under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). A Post-Scoping Notice of its decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.
Scoping Notice - Post-Scoping Notice (Need More Time)
If an agency is unable to publish a Post-Scoping Notice within six months after the comment period for scoping, the agency will publish an update with an action status and an estimate as to when a Post-Scoping Notice will be published. Such an update will be published by the agency at six-month intervals until the Post-Scoping Notice is published. Read More
1. Notice of Time Extension for Post Scoping Notice for Interchange Improvements to I-91, I-691, and Route 15
Municipalities where the proposed action would be located: Meriden and Middletown
Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On September 22, 2020, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for State project numbers 79-240, 79-245, and 79-246 in the Environmental Monitor. A virtual CEPA scoping meeting was held on October 8, 2020. CTDOT is waiting on further analysis prior to making a final CEPA determination.
Action Status: CTDOT is awaiting the results of a noise study prior to publishing a Post-Scoping Notice.
Estimated Publication Date: CTDOT estimates that a Post-Scoping Notice will be published in the Environmental Monitor in April 2022.
If you have questions about the proposed action, contact (E-Mail preferred):
Name: Mr. Sebastian Cannamela, P.E., Project Manager
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Bureau of Engineering and Construction
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131
Phone: (860) 594-2698
E-Mail: Sebastian.Cannamela@ct.gov
What Happens Next: CTDOT will make a determination whether to proceed with preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) or that the project does not require the preparation of an EIE under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). A Post-Scoping Notice of its decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor (estimated April 2022).
Post-Scoping Notice
A Post-Scoping Notice is the determination by a sponsoring agency, after publication of a Scoping Notice and consideration of comments received, whether an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) needs to be prepared for a proposed State action. Read More
EIE Notice
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). Read More
Agency Record of Decision
After an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) is developed, an agency will prepare a concise public record of decision, which takes into consideration the agency’s findings in the EIE, and any comments received on that evaluation. Read More
OPM's Determination of Adequacy
After an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) is developed. the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) will determine if the EIE is adequate. If not, OPM will specify the areas of inadequacy with reference to CEPA or the CEPA regulations and specify the corrective action required. Read More
State Land Transfer Notice
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.
CEPA Project Inventory
The Office of Policy and Management (OPM) maintains a list of projects they have entered the CEPA process. It shows each project's status. The inventory can be found here.
All inquiries and requests of the Council should be sent electronically to: peter.hearn@ct.gov.
