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January 4, 2022

Scoping Notice

  1. Notice of Scoping for Kensington State Fish Hatchery Solar Project, Berlin.
  2. Notice of Scoping for State of Connecticut Department of Correction Solar Projects at Cheshire.
  3. Notice of Scoping for State of Connecticut Department of Correction Solar Projects at Enfield/Somers.
  4. Notice of Scoping for Suffield Wildlife Management Area Prescribed Burn, Suffield.
  5. Cancellation Notice for Putnam Memorial Park Pond Dam Removal, Redding.

Scoping Notice - Post-Scoping Notice (Need More Time)

  1. NEW! Notice of Time Extension for Post Scoping Notice for Interchange Improvements to I-91, I-691, and Route 15, Meriden/Middletown.    

Post-Scoping Notice

  1. Post-Scoping Notice for Southbury Training School Farm Building Demolition, Southbury.
  2. Post-Scoping Notice for Replacement of Bridge No. 04152, West Cedar Street over Five Mile River, Norwalk.

Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE)

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

Agency Record of Decision

     No Record of Decision Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.

OPM Determination of Adequacy

     No Determination of Adequacy Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.

State Land Transfer

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

 

The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on January 18, 2022.
 
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Notices in the Environmental Monitor are written and formatted by the sponsoring agencies and are published unedited. Questions about the content of any notice should be directed to the sponsoring agency.

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


The following Scoping Notices have been submitted for publication in this edition.

1. Notice of Scoping for Kensington State Fish Hatchery Solar Project

Project Title: Kensington State Fish Hatchery

Address of possible location:  120 Old Hatchery Road, Kensington

Municipality where proposed action might be located: Berlin

Project Description:  This Project consists of one solar PV system that will reside on the grounds of Kensington State Fish Hatchery. Included in this submission is the proposed site plan for the system.

The ground mounted PV system consists of 288 solar panels with a capacity of approximately 124 kilowatts (kW). 

This system will occupy an area of roughly 2/3 acres.

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 January 7, 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: December 17th, 2021.

Written comments, questions and/or requests for a public scoping meeting should be sent to

Name: Michael Barrera

Agency: Department of Administrative Services

Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 1501, Hartford, CT 06103

E-Mail: Michael.Barrera@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: Michael Barrera

Agency: Department of Administrative Services

Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 1501, Hartford, CT 06103

E-Mail:  Michael.Barrera@ct.gov


What Happens Next:
 The Department of Administrative Services 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 State of Connecticut Department of Correction Solar Projects at Cheshire

The sponsoring agency for this public scoping notice is the Department of Administrative Services.

Addresses of possible locations:

  • 900 Highland Ave, Cheshire
  • 42 Jarvis St, Cheshire

Municipality where proposed action might be located: Cheshire, CT

Project Description:

Site Names and Addresses:

  • Cheshire CI – 900 Highland Ave, Cheshire
  • Manson Youth – 42 Jarvis St, Cheshire

This Project consists of two solar PV systems that will reside on the grounds of Manson Youth Institution and the Cheshire Correctional Institution.  The Cheshire Correctional Institution solar PV System, located at 900 Highland Ave, will consist of roughly 5,100 solar panels with a capacity of approximately 1.9 megawatts (MW).  This will be a ground mounted system located within an existing maintained field in the southwest portion of the property.  The solar array footprint will occupy roughly 6.5 acres.

The Manson Youth Institute solar PV system, located at 42 Jarvis St, Cheshire, is of similar scale.  This system will consist of roughly 4,600 solar panels with a capacity of approximately 1.9 MW.  This will be a ground mounted system with arrays located at two different parts of the property, occupying a total of roughly 5.7 acres

Project Maps: Cheshire CI Solar Array 1 and Manson Solar Array 2.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: January 6, 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 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 December 17, 2021.

Written comments, questions and/or requests for a public scoping meeting should be sent to:

Name: Michael Barrera

Agency: Department of Administrative Services

Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 1501, Hartford, CT 06103

Phone: (860) 713-5267

E-Mail: Michael.Barrera@ct.gov

 

Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to:

Name: Anthony Campanelli

Agency: Department of Corrections

Address: 24 Wolcott Hill Rd. Wethersfield, CT 06109

E-Mail: Anthony.campanelli@ct.gov


What Happens Next:
 The Department of Administrative Services 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


3. Notice of Scoping for State of Connecticut Department of Correction Solar Projects at Enfield/Somers

Addresses of possible locations:

  • Osborn – 335 Bilton Rd, Somers
  • Enfield – 289 Shaker Rd, Enfield
  • Willard - 391 Shaker Rd, Enfield

Municipalities where proposed action might be located: Somers and Enfield

Project Description:

This Project consists of five solar PV systems that will reside on the grounds of Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institute, Osborn Correctional Institution and Enfield Correctional institution.  Included in this submission are the proposed site plans for each system.  Although some systems abut one another and share the same perimeter fence line, each of the five solar PV systems are designed to operate independently from one another.

Site Names and Addresses:

  • Robinson A – 289 Shaker Rd, Enfield
  • Robinson B – 289 Shaker Rd, Enfield
  • Enfield – 289 Shaker Rd, Enfield
  • Osborn – 335 Bilton Rd, Somers
  • Willard - 391 Shaker Rd, Enfield

The ground mounted PV systems of Robinson A, Robinson B and Enfield are all proposed to be on the South side of Enfield Correctional Institution at 289 Shaker Rd, Enfield.  These three PV systems abut each other creating one ground mounted solar array.  Robinson A consists of approximately 304 solar panels with a capacity of approximately 92 kilowatts (kW).  Robinson B consists of approximately 704 solar panels with a capacity of approximately 212 kW. Enfield consists of approximately 608 solar panels with a capacity of approximately 205 kW.  Combined these three PV systems will occupy an area that is roughly 1.3 acres of an existing field.  This proposed location is roughly 1,050 Linear Feet (LF) West of a grassland bird mitigation area.

The ground mounted PV system of Willard is proposed to be built on the South side of Enfield Correctional Institution.  The PV system consists of approximately 1,944 solar panels with a capacity of approximately 625 kW.  This system will be electrically connected into the Willard Building of the Willard-Cybulski Correctional Facility located at 391 Shaker Rd, Enfield.  This PV system will occupy and area of roughly 2.5 acres.  The proposed location is roughly 750 LF West of a grassland bird mitigation area.

The ground mounted PV system of Osborn is proposed to be built on previously farmed land located on the North West side of Osborn Correctional Institution.  This PV system consists of approximately 4,830 solar panels with a capacity of approximately 1.8 MW.  The total area of this PV system is roughly 5.7 acres.  This proposed location is roughly 65 LF East of a grassland bird mitigation area.

Project MapsOsborn Solar Array MapWillard Solar Array MapRobinson Solar Array Map ARobinson Solar Array Map BEnfield Solar Array MapEnfield Overview.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: January 6, 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: December 17, 2021.

Written comments, questions and/or requests for a public scoping meeting should be sent to: 

Name: Michael Barrera

Agency: Department of Administrative Services

Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 1501, Hartford, CT 06103

Phone: 860-713-5267

E-Mail: Michael.Barrera@ct.gov

Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to:

Name: Anthony Campanelli
Agency: 
Department of Corrections
Address: 
24 Wolcott Hill Rd. Wethersfield, CT 06109
E-Mail: 
Anthony.campanelli@ct.gov

 

What Happens Next: The Department of Administrative Services 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.


4. 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:

DATEJanuary 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 
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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 atDEEP 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.


5. Cancellation Notice for Putnam Memorial Park Pond Dam Removal

Address of possible location: 499 Black Rock Turnpike, Redding

Municipality where it would have been located: Redding

Agency Determination: The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has decidedto cancel the dam removal project as described the last time a notice appeared in the Environmental Monitor on February 6, 2018, because of issues unrelated to the environmental review requirements of the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA), including but not limited to lack of funding for this project. 

Agency contact:

Name: Dan Biron

Agency: Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Address: 79 Elm Street Hartford CT 06106

E-Mail: Dan.Biron@ct.gov

What Happens Next: The proposed project is cancelled. Should the project be proposed at a future date, the CEPA process will be initiated again with a new Scoping Notice announcing that intent.


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


The following notice for additional time has been submitted for publication in this edition.

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


The following Post-Scoping Notices have been submitted for publication in this edition.

1. Post-Scoping Notice for Southbury Training School Farm Building Demolition

Project Title: Southbury Training School Farm Building and Structure Demolition Project

Project Location: Corner of Spruce Brook Rd., Purchase Brook Rd. and Cassidy Rd.

Municipality where project is located: Southbury

Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On November, 2, 2021, the Department of Agriculture published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this proposed project in the Environmental Monitor.

A public scoping meeting was not requested or held for this project.

There was one comment received during the public comment period from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.  The response to the comment received is linked here in the Environmental Review Checklist.  After consideration of the comment received, the Department of Agriculture has determined that the project does not require preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) under CEPA.

The Department of Agriculture's conclusion is documented in a Memorandum of Findings and Determination which is linked here.

Agency contact:

Name: Jaime L. Smith

Agency: Department of Agriculture

Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103

Phone: (860) 713-2559

E-Mail: jaime.smith@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.

What Happens Next:
The Department of Agriculture expects the proposed project to go forward, provided funding becomes available.  This is the final notice of the action to be published in the Environmental Monitor.


2. Post-Scoping Notice for Replacement of Bridge No. 04152, West Cedar Street over Five Mile River

Address of Possible Project Location: West Cedar Street over Five Mile River approximately 800 feet west of Richards Avenue

Municipality where it would be located: Norwalk

CEPA Determination: On May 18, 2021, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this proposed project in the Environmental Monitor.

Comments from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) were received during the public comment period, however no comments were received from the general public during the scoping period, which concluded on June 18, 2021. A public scoping meeting was not held since there were no requests to hold a scoping meeting. 

A synopsis of comments received and CTDOT's responses are included in the Environmental Review Checklist

After consideration of the comments received, the CTDOT has determined that the project does not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA). CTDOT's conclusion is documented in a Memo of Findings and Determination and the Environmental Review Checklist

 Agency contact (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

Phone: 860-594-2924

E-Mail: Kevin.Fleming@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 CTDOT expects the proposed project to go forward.  This will be the final notice for this project in the Environmental Monitor.


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 


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


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 


No Record of Decision Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.


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 


No Determination of Adequacy Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.


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


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


 

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.


CEQ Contact Information

All inquiries and requests of the Council should be sent electronically to: peter.hearn@ct.gov.


 

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