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July 19, 2022

Scoping Notice

  1. Notice of Scoping for Norwalk First Taxing District - Grupes Dam Rehabilitation, Norwalk/New Canaan.
  2. NEW! Notice of Scoping for Rehabilitation of Bridge 00793A – Route 15 Northbound Over Quinnipiac River, Wallingford.
  3. NEW! Notice of Scoping for Properties at 18-20 and 30 Trinity Street in Hartford.

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

    No notice for additional time has been submitted for publication in this edition. 

Post-Scoping Notice

  1. NEW! Post-Scoping Notice for Wallens Hill Water Storage Tank, Winchester.
  2. NEW! Post-Scoping Notice for Crystal Lake Water Storage Tank, Winchester.

Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE)

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

Agency Record of Decision

  1. Record of Decision for Mirror Lake Improvements Project, University of Connecticut, Mansfield.

OPM Determination of Adequacy

  1. NEW! The Office of Policy and Management's Review of the Record of Decision for Bridgeport Ox Brook Flood Control Master Plan, Bridgeport.

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 August 2, 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 Norwalk First Taxing District - Grupes Dam Rehabilitation

Addresses of possible locations:  On Silvermine River, off Valley Road and Deep Valley Road in New Canaan

Municipalities where proposed action might be located: Norwalk/New Canaan

Project Description

Grupes Reservoir Dam impoundment serves as drinking supply water for the First Taxing District Water Department of Norwalk, Connecticut. Grupes Reservoir is the fourth of four reservoirs operated by the District along Silvermine River. Grupes Reservoir Dam was originally constructed in 1871 to impound the Grupes Reservoir as a drinking water supply for the City of Norwalk. Grupes Reservoir Dam is classified by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) dam safety regulations (RCSA 22a409) as a Class C, or "high hazard" dam, meaning that if the dam were to fail, it could result in probable loss of life, major damage to habitable structures and residences, damage to critical utilities and infrastructure, and great economic loss.  As a Class C dam, a safety inspection of Grupes Reservoir Dam is performed by a Dam Safety Engineering consultant every 2 years. The information obtained from the inspections and studies generates recommendations for both shortterm and longterm work necessary to maintain public safety and structural integrity as well as increase operational efficiency and District employee safety.

Potential work includes, but is not limited to:

  • Raise the top of dam by 4 feet to elevation 306.0 with a cast‐in‐place concrete cap, and re‐grade at dam abutments to mitigate overtopping during the spillway design flood (spillway to remain at current elevation);
  • Construct earthen embankment along east side of Grupes Reservoir and re‐grade existing high ground and access road to mitigate overtopping/flooding during the spillway design flood (spillway to remain at current elevation);
  • Construct parapet / retaining walls along east side of Grupes Reservoir to mitigate overtopping/flooding during the spillway design flood;

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: August 5, 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: July 15, 2022.

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 #12DWS, PO Box 340308, Hartford,

                      CT 06134-0308

E-Mail:          Dph.sourceprotection@ct.gov

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

Name:             Mr. Eric McPhee

Agency:          Department of Public Health – Drinking Water Section

Address:         410 Capitol Avenue, MS #12DWS, PO Box 340308, Hartford,
                         CT 06134-0308

E-Mail:            eric.mcphee@ct.gov

Phone:            860-509-7333

 

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:             Mr. John Tyler Castellanete

Agency:          Department of Public Health, Hearing Office

Address:         410 Capitol Avenue, MS #13PHO
                         Hartford, CT 06134-0308

E-Mail:             DPH.foi@ct.gov

Phone:            860-566-5682

 

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 Rehabilitation of Bridge 00793A – Route 15 Northbound Over Quinnipiac River

Address of possible location: The bridge is located approximately 1.4 miles south of Exit 66 on mile post 59.66.

Municipality where proposed action might be located: Wallingford

Project DescriptionThe purpose of the project is to rehabilitate the existing bridge. Constructed in 1946, the existing structure is comprised of two simply supported spans with a reinforced concrete deck supported by 5 rolled steel beams resting on reinforced concrete abutments and a reinforced concrete pier wall. The existing substructure is founded on timber piles. The existing structure has a maximum span of 51 feet and has a 31-foot curb-to-curb width and a bituminous concrete overlay with woven glass fabric waterproofing membrane. The existing structure length is 107 feet. The average daily traffic (ADT) is approximately 29,600 vehicles per day (2020). The concrete deck deterioration shows deep spalls with exposed rusted rebar and section loss. 

The project is currently in the preliminary design phase. Since the deck was previously patched under a rehabilitation project and due to the extent of deterioration of the deck, a superstructure replacement is anticipated. The current proposed construction method is to demolish the existing bridge superstructure and replace the bridge. Based on the existing condition of the substructure and the fact that the substructure it is founded on piles, the existing substructure shall remain and be repaired as required. On the bridge, an existing historic open bridge rail resides on either side of the bridge. The bridge has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places as part of a potential Wilbur Cross Parkway Linear Historic District. As such, the proposed project will result in an Adverse Effect to historic properties due to the proposed replacement of the superstructure, including one of the character-defining features of the structure, the metal bridge railings. Coordination with the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office is ongoing to determine any mitigation measures required for the impact to the bridge. 

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: Friday August 19, 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: July 29,2022

Other Information: A virtual public informational meeting was held on May 12, 2022. A report of the meeting can be found hereA recording of the meeting can be found here

Written comments and/or requests for a public scoping meeting should be sent to (email preferred)

Name: Kevin Fleming, Transportation Planner

Agency: Department of Transportation Bureau of Policy and Planning

Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike Newington, CT 06131 

E-Mail: dot.environmentalplanning@ct.gov

If you have questions about the scoping for this project, contact (email preferred):

Name: Nicholas J. MartinTransportation Engineer 

Agency: Department of Transportation, Bureau of Engineering and Construction

Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike Newington, CT 06131

Phone: 860-594-3609

E-Mail: Nicholas.Martin@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: Department of Transportation Office of Legal Services 

Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike Newington, CT 06131 

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.


3. Notice of Scoping for Properties at 18-20 and 30 Trinity Street in Hartford

Addresses of possible location: 18-20 Trinity Street, and 30 Trinity Street

Municipality where proposed action might be located: Hartford

Project Description: The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) is proposing the sale and transfer of the subject properties to a private developer who will restore the existing historic buildings into a mixed-use redevelopment consisting of approximately 110 apartment units, ground floor restaurant/retail space, an outdoor plaza and amenities for residents including co-working office space, a fitness center, a yoga studio, and a community room and rooftop garden at 18-20 Trinity Street.

Apartment units will include a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments consisting of 80% market rate and 20% affordable units restricted to those earning less than 60% of the area median income.

The proposal intends to utilize the properties’ existing 67 surface parking spaces, and to seek additional parking capacity through a shared parking arrangement on nearby property owned by the the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). 

The proposed project was selected in response to a DAS-issued Request for Proposals (RFP) which sought to transfer the properties to a private developer interested in redeveloping the subject properties for their highest and best use, consistent with the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut’s economic development goals.

The subject properties are also identified in the Bushnell Park South Master Plan developed by the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) and the City of Hartford. 

The properties were previously published in the Environmental Monitor as a State Land Transfer Notice on March 16, 2021, in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 4b-47.  No comments were received.

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: Friday, August 19, 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: July 29, 2022.

Written comments and/or requests for a public scoping meeting should be sent to (email preferred):

Name: Matthew Pafford

Agency: Department of Administrative Services (DAS)

Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT

E-Mail: matthew.pafford@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 (DAS) 

Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT

E-Mail: michael.barrera@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


No notice for additional time has been submitted for publication in this edition.


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 Wallens Hill Water Storage Tank

Address of Possible Project Location: 206 Wallens Street and 3 Stowe Rd

Municipality where project will be located: Winchester

 

Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On March 22, 2022, the Department of Public Health (DPH) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor.

 

Based on the DPH’s environmental assessment of this project which includes a review of comments provided by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) dated April 14, 2022, it has been determined that the project does not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) under CEPA. The DPH will coordinate with the water utility to ensure that the recommendations received during the Scoping period are implemented.

 

The agency's conclusion is documented in a Memorandum of Findings and Determination and an Environmental Review Checklist.

 

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

 

             Name:          Mr. Eric McPhee

           Agency:          Department of Public Health—Drinking Water Section

          Address:         410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 12DWS, PO Box 340308

                                    Hartford, CT  06134-0308

             E-mail:              DPH.SourceProtection@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:            Mr. John Tyler Castellanete

            Agency:           Department of Public Health, Hearing Office

          Address:          410 Capitol Avenue, MS #13PHO

                                     Hartford, CT  06134-0308

             E-mail:              DPH.foi@ct.gov     

Phone:              860-566-5682

 

What happens next:  The DPH 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 Crystal Lake Water Storage Tank

Address of Possible Project Location:  338 Winchester Rd

 

Municipality where project will be located:  Winchester, CT

 

Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On March 22, 2022, the Department of Public Health (DPH) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor.

 

Based on the DPH’s environmental assessment of this project which includes a review of comments provided by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) dated April 14, 2022, it has been determined that the project does not require the preparation of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) under CEPA. The DPH will coordinate with the water utility to ensure that the recommendations received during the Scoping period are implemented.

 

The agency's conclusion is documented in a Memorandum of Findings and Determination and an Environmental Review Checklist.

 

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

 

            Name:             Mr. Eric McPhee

            Agency:          Department of Public Health—Drinking Water Section

            Address:         410 Capitol Avenue, MS# 12DWS, PO Box 340308

                                    Hartford, CT  06134-0308

            E-mail:               DPH.SourceProtection@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:              Mr. John Tyler Castellanete

            Agency:           Department of Public Health, Hearing Office

            Address:          410 Capitol Avenue, MS #13PHO

                                     Hartford, CT  06134-0308

            E-mail:               DPH.foi@ct.gov

Phone:              860-566-5682

 

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


The following Record of Decision Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.

1. Record of Decision for Mirror Lake Improvements Project
University of Connecticut

Project Location: Mansfield Road & Route 195

MunicipalityMansfield

Project Description:  
Mirror Lake has been a beloved and historic campus landmark since 1922.  After multiple decades of deferred maintenance; accumulating silt, sediment and pollutants; significant campus development within its watershed over the same period of time resulting in an undersized stormwater facility; and, a damaged spillway and a dam that recently received an elevated hazard classification, various improvements to Mirror Lake are now essential.  Numerous studies recently completed for Mirror Lake – an unimplemented dredging plan in 2012, a campus master plan and water quality assessment in 2015, a campus drainage master plan in 2018, a dam inspection report in 2020, and a feasibility study in 2021 – each concluded with recommendations for the University to take action.

This project will design and construct improvements that were identified in the feasibility study and satisfy requirements of the campus drainage master plan in order to execute an MOU between UConn and DEEP and a master flood management certificate (FMC) for the Roberts Brook watershed.  The proposed project consists of the following elements:

  • Dam safety improvements, including replacing the existing spillway with a stepped spillway and raising the dam’s earthen embankment
  • Stormwater management improvements, including the rerouting of several discharge points into sedimentation forebays and regrading of upstream and downstream slopes
  • Dredging and improvements to aquatic ecosystems, including the use of hydraulic and mechanical dredging to remove accumulated sediments and restore the lake depth
  • Landscape improvements, including littoral zone plantings and site-specific amenities that enhance cultural benefits and improve access to the water’s edge
The Mirror Lake Improvements project was identified in UConn’s Campus Master Plan as a key near-term landscape project aimed at amplifying the University’s commitment to sustainable, resilient landscapes and enhancing Mirror Lake’s function as a ceremonial entry to the South Campus. This project will be an opportunity for the University to improve the Lake’s hydrological performance and natural aesthetic, while also expanding access to the water’s edge and celebrating the Lake as an important cultural asset and entry point to the campus.
 
The Mirror Lake Improvements project is currently in the Design Phase with anticipated design completion in Fall 2022. Construction is anticipated to begin in Spring 2023 complete in Fall 2024.
 
Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On April 5, 2022, the University published a Notice of Availability of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) in accordance with Section 22a-1d of CEPA, in the Environmental Monitor.
 
The University held a public hearing on April 13, 2022 via GoToWebinar. The public hearing was livestreamed and a recording can be viewed at http://updc.uconn.edu/mirror-lake.  A copy of the public hearing's presentation is also included in Attachment E of the Record of Decision.
 
The Record of Decision contains all comments submitted on the EIE, including those received from the general public during the public hearing. Copies of comments received on the EIE and their responses are provided in Attachment F.  Additional comments were received from the Town of Mansfield and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The University has prepared responses to the substantive issues raised in the comments on the EIE and on supplemental materials or amendments. The University's conclusion is documented in the Record of Decisionfor the proposed action.

Agency contact:

Name: Ian Dann, Project Manager
Agency: University of Connecticut, University Planning, Design and Construction
Address: 3 Discovery Drive U-6038, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-6038
Phone: (860) 486-6503
E-Mail: ian.dann@uconn.edu

Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted at https://publicrecords.uconn.edu/make-a-request.

What happens next: The University has submitted the Record of Decision to the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) for review. OPM's determination regarding the Record of Decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.


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 


The following Determination of Adequacy Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.

1. The Office of Policy and Management's Review of the Record of Decision for Bridgeport Ox Brook Flood Control Master Plan

Address of Possible Project Location: Various locations along Ox Brook in the City of Bridgeport, extending from Elton Rogers Park at the north end to Lincoln Boulevard at the south end of the Project

Municipality where proposed action will be located: Bridgeport

CEPA Determination: On June 21, 2022, the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection published a Record of Decision in the Environmental Monitor. The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) has reviewed the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection's Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) and the associated process in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 22a-1e and determined that the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection's Record of Decision is adequate. OPM's conclusion is documented in the Review of the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Record of Decision for the proposed action.

OPM contact:

Name:  Bruce Wittchen

Agency: Office of Policy and Management

Address:  450 Capitol Ave, MS# 54ORG, Hartford, CT 06106

Phone:  860-418-6323

E-Mail:  bruce.wittchen@ct.gov

What happens next:  The proposed action is expected to proceed. This is the final notice for the proposed action to be published in the Environmental Monitor.


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: paul.aresta@ct.gov.


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