October 4, 2022
No Scoping Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
Scoping Notice - Post-Scoping Notice (Need More Time)
- Notice of Time Extension for Post-Scoping Notice for Kensington State Fish Hatchery Solar Project, Berlin.
- Post-Scoping Notice for the State of Connecticut Department of Correction Solar Projects at Cheshire.
- Post-Scoping Notice for the State of Connecticut Department of Correction Solar Projects at Enfield/Somers.
Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE)
- NEW! Notice of Environmental Impact Evaluation for Mansfield Apartments Redevelopment Project at the University of Connecticut, Mansfield.
- Record of Decision for Mirror Lake Improvements Project, University of Connecticut, Mansfield.
- The Office of Policy and Management's Review of the Record of Decision for the NVCOG Regional Wastewater Study; Derby, Ansonia, and Seymour.
- NEW! The Office of Policy and Management's Review of the Record of Decision for Mirror Lake Improvements Project, University of Connecticut, Mansfield.
- NEW! Notice of Proposed Land Transfer (Overhill Drive) in Suffield.
The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on October 18, 2022.
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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
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 Kensington State Fish Hatchery Solar Project, Berlin
Address:120 Old Hatchery Road, Kensington
Municipality: Berlin
Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On December 7, 2021, the Department of Administrative Services published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this action in the Environmental Monitor. The Department of Administrative Services is unable to publish its determination regarding this action at this time.
Action Status: Awaiting additional information.
Estimated Publication Date: The Department of Administrative Services estimates that a Post-Scoping Notice will be published in the Environmental Monitor on or before October 18, 2022.
If you have questions about the proposed action, contact:
Name: Michael Barrera
Agency: Department of Administrative Services
Address: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 1501, Hartford, CT 06103
Phone: (860) 713-526
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 CEPA. A Post-Scoping Notice of its decision will appear in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.
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
1. Post-Scoping Notice for the State of Connecticut Department of Correction Solar Projects at Cheshire
Addresses of possible locations: 900 Highland Ave and 42 Jarvis St.
Municipalities where the proposed action would be located: Cheshire
Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On December 7, 2021, the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services posted a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections Solar projects at Cheshire locations in the Environmental Monitor.
A public scoping meeting was not requested.
Comments from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) were received during the public comment period, however no comments from the public were received during that time. A synopsis of the comments received and responses are included in the Environmental Review Checklist.
An initial review of the projects by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) resulted in the request for an archeological survey of the sites. After the completion of those surveys, SHPO determined that no additional archaeological investigation of the project area is warranted and that no historic properties will be affected by the proposed undertaking.
Based on the feedback received during the public comment period, the Department of Administrative Services has determined that an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) will not be required for the proposed State action. The agency’s conclusion is documented in the Environmental Review Checklist.
Agency Contact:
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 the sponsoring State Agency.
Name: Anthony Campanelli
Agency: Department of Corrections
Address: 24 Wolcott Hill Rd. Wethersfield, CT 06109
E-Mail: Anthony.campanelli@ct.gov
What Happens Next: CT DAS expects the proposed projects to go forward. This will be the final notice for these projects in the Environmental Monitor.
2. Post-Scoping Notice for the 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
Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On December 7, 2021, the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services posted a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for the State of Connecticut Department of Corrections Solar projects at Enfield/Somers locations in the Environmental Monitor.
A public scoping meeting was not requested.
Comments from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) were received during the public comment period, however no comments from the public were received during that time. A synopsis of the comments received and responses are included in the Environmental Review Checklist.
An initial review of the projects by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) resulted in the request for an archeological survey of the sites. After the completion of those surveys, SHPO determined that no additional archaeological investigation of the project area is warranted and that no historic properties will be affected by the proposed undertaking.
Based on the feedback received during the public comment period, the Department of Administrative Services has determined that an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) will not be required for the proposed State action. The agency’s conclusion is documented in the Environmental Review Checklist.
Agency Contact:
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 the sponsoring State Agency.
Name: Anthony Campanelli
Agency: Department of Corrections
Address: 24 Wolcott Hill Rd. Wethersfield, CT 06109
E-Mail: Anthony.campanelli@ct.gov
What Happens Next: CT DAS expects the proposed projects to go forward. This will be the final notice for these projects 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
1. Notice of Environmental Impact Evaluation for Mansfield Apartments Redevelopment Project at the University of Connecticut
Address of Project Location: 1 South Eagleville Road
Municipality where it is located: Mansfield
Project Description: The University of Connecticut is planning a design-build project to redevelop the existing 270-bed apartment complex known as Mansfield Apartments located at 1 South Eagleville Road in Mansfield, Connecticut. Built between the 1940s to 1950s, the complex has reached the end of its useful life as campus housing and requires renewal. Three new apartment buildings are proposed with associated utility services, best stormwater management, redesigned site access and parking over the existing 16-acre development. The redeveloped site will continue to provide housing for UConn students and be owned and operated by the University.
Project Map: A map of the project area is available here.
Scoping Notice and Post-Scoping Notice: Beginning on February 22, 2022, the University published the first of three Notices of Scoping in the Environmental Monitor. A public scoping meeting was held on March 10, 2022, and the 30-day comment period closed on March 24, 2022. The University published a Post-Scoping Notice in the Environmental Monitor on June 7, 2022.
The University has prepared an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE). The public may view an electronic copy of this EIE here and a hard copy is available for viewing at the University upon request. Additional information regarding the project, its notices and a recording of the hearing will be available at https://updc.uconn.edu/mansfield-apts/.
Comments on this EIE will be accepted until 5pm on Friday, November 18, 2022.
There is a public hearing scheduled for this EIE on:
Date: Monday, November 7, 2022
Time: 6:00 pm ET
Place: Konover Auditorium at The Dodd Center for Human Rights and streaming live at http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/uyrei
Notes: Parking is recommended in the South Parking Garage located at 2366 Jim Calhoun Way, Storrs, CT 06269. A link to the recording will be available shortly after the hearing at http://updc.uconn.edu/mansfield-apts.
Written comments and/or questions about the meeting, project, or the EIE should be sent to the following agency contact (email preferred) (Please use “Mansfield Apts EIE” in the subject line):
Name: John Robitaille, Senior Project Manager
Agency: University Planning, Design and Construction
Address: 3 Discovery Drive, U-6038, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-6038
Phone: (860) 486-5930
E-Mail: john.robitaille@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 will review the comments received and may conduct further environmental study and analysis or amend the EIE. The University will also prepare responses to the substantive issues raised in review of the comments received. Those responses, and all supplemental materials and comments, shall be made available in a Record of Decision that will appear in a future issue of the Environmental Monitor.
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
1. Record of Decision for Mirror Lake Improvements Project
University of Connecticut
Project Location: Mansfield Road & Route 195
Municipality: Mansfield
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
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) and record of decision are developed, the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) will determine if the EIE and the associated process are 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
1. The Office of Policy and Management's Review of the Record of Decision for the NVCOG Regional Wastewater Study
Addresses of Possible Project Location: Areas within studied municipal sewer service areas
Municipalities where proposed action will be located: The study included Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Seymour, Ansonia, and Derby
CEPA Determination: On August 2, 2022, the Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection published a Record of Decision, a Supplement to the Record of Decision Project Information, and a Supplement to the Record of Decision Natural Diversity Database Consultation in the Environmental Monitor. The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) has reviewed the Dept. 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 Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection's Record of Decision is adequate. OPM's conclusion is documented in the Review of the Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection's Record of Decision for the proposed action.
OPM contact:
Name: Bruce Wittchen
Agency: Office of Policy and Management
Address: 450 Capitol Ave, 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.
2. The Office of Policy and Management's Review of the Record of Decision for Mirror Lake Improvements Project, University of Connecticut
Address: Mansfield Road & Route 195
Municipality: Mansfield
CEPA Determination: On September 20, 2022, the University of Connecticut (UConn) published a Record of Decision in the Environmental Monitor. The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) has reviewed UConn's Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) and the associated process in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 22a-1e and determined that UConn's Record of Decision is adequate. OPM's conclusion is documented in the Review of the UConn's Record of Decision for the proposed action.
OPM contact:
Name: Bruce Wittchen
Agency: Office of Policy and Management
Address: 450 Capitol Ave, Hartford CT 06101
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.
1. Notice of Proposed Land Transfer in Suffield
Complete Address of Property: Overhill Drive, Suffield, Connecticut
Commonly used name of property or other identifying information: The property is located on two parcels to the west and north of Overhill Drive. The parcels are identified on the town's property cards as Parcel # 76H-45-179 and Parcel # 65H-45-184.
Number of acres to be transferred: 27.5+/- acres total
Click to view a map of Parcel # 76H-45-179
Click to view a map of Parcel # 65H-45-184
Description of Property:
Below is some general information about the property. It should not be considered a complete description of the property and should not be relied upon for making decisions. If only a portion of a property is proposed for transfer, the description pertains only to the portion being transferred.
Brief Description of Historical and Current Uses: Vacant/ Wooded Land
The property to be transferred contains the following:
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Building(s) in use |
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Building(s) not in use |
X |
No Structures |
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Other Features: |
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Paved areas |
X |
Wooded land |
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Non agricultural fields |
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Active agriculture |
X |
Ponds, streams, other water, wetlands |
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Public water supply |
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On-site well |
X |
Water Supply Unknown |
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X |
Served by sewers (Property is subject to a 25' wide sewer easement on the eastern half of the property in favor of the Town of Suffield). |
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On-site septic system |
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Waste Disposal Unknown |
Click to view aerial view of property
The property is in the following municipal zone(s):
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X |
Zoned |
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Not zoned |
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Not known |
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X |
Residential |
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Industrial |
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Commercial |
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Institutional |
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Other: |
[identify “other” zone] |
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Special features of the property, if known: Property is subject to a 25' wide sewer easement on the eastern half of the property in favor of the Town of Suffield.
Value of property, if known: The property is to be released to the Town of Suffield for $210,000.00
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If checked, value is not known. |
Type of Sale or Transfer:
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X |
Sale or transfer of property in fee |
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Sale or transfer of partial interest in the property (such as an easement). Description of interest: |
Proposed recipient, if known: The Town of Suffield
Proposed use by property recipient, if known: Unknown
The agency is proposing to transfer the property with the following restrictions on future uses:
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X |
If checked, the state is not currently proposing restrictions on future uses. |
Reason the state of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property: Property is no longer needed for transportation purposes.
Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on Friday, November 4, 2022.
Comments may include (but are not limited to) information you might have about significant natural resources or recreation resources on the property, as well as your recommendations for means to preserve such resources.
Written comments or questions* should be sent to:
Name: Ms. Melanie A. Fadoir, Supervising Property Agent
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Division of Rights of Way
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT, 06131
E-Mail: Melanie.Fadoir@ct.gov
*E-Mail submissions are preferred.
(Comments from state agencies must be on agency letterhead and signed by agency head. Scanned copies are preferred.)
What Happens Next:
When this comment period closes, the proposed land transfer can take one of three tracks:
1. If no public comments are received, the sale or transfer can proceed with no further public comment and no further notices in the Environmental Monitor, unless the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) elects to conduct a review of the property (see #3).
2. If public comments are received, the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) will respond to those comments. The comments and responses will be published in the Environmental Monitor. Fifteen days after publication of the comments and responses, the proposed sale or transfer can proceed, unless DEEP elects to conduct a review of the property (see #3).
3. If DEEP elects to conduct a further review of the property, it may submit to OPM a report with recommendations for preserving all or part of the property. The report and recommendations will be published in the Environmental Monitor, and there will be a 30-day public comment period. The DEEP will publish its responses to any comments received and its final recommendation about the property in the Environmental Monitor. OPM will then make the final determination as to the ultimate disposition of the property, and will publish that determination in the Environmental Monitor. Fifteen days after publication of that final determination, the sale or transfer can proceed.
To find out if this proposed transfer is the subject of further notices, check future editions of the Environmental Monitor. Sign up for e-alerts to receive a reminder e-mail on Environmental Monitor publication dates.
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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