September 6, 2022
- NEW! Notice of Scoping for Norwalk First Taxing District - Grupes Dam Rehabilitation (REVISED), Norwalk/New Canaan.
Scoping Notice - Post-Scoping Notice (Need More Time)
No notice for additional time has been submitted for publication in this edition.
- Post-Scoping Notice for the Reconfiguration of Route 17 On-Ramp to Route 9 Northbound, Middletown.
Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE)
- Second Notice of Environmental Impact Evaluation for Mirror Lake Improvements Project, Mansfield.
The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on September 20, 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
1. Notice of Scoping for Norwalk First Taxing District - Grupes Dam Rehabilitation (REVISED)
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 22a‐409) 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 short‐term and long‐term 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.
Scoping Notice: On July 5, 2022, the Department of Public Health published a Scoping Notice in the Environmental Monitor.A public scoping meeting was not initially anticipated. Subsequently, a public scoping meeting has been scheduled.
There will be a public scoping meeting for this proposed action:
DATE: September 19, 2022
TIME: 1:00
PLACE: Virtual via Microsoft Teams
NOTES: The meeting will be open to the public and is available by clicking on this link: Click here to join the meeting
Comments on the scoping for the proposed project/action can be submitted in writing until the close of business on: September 26, 2022.
Written comments 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 the 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.
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
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 Reconfiguration of Route 17 On-Ramp to Route 9 Northbound
Address of Possible Project: 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.
Municipality where it would be located: Middletown
Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) Determination: On January 18, 2022, the Connecticut Department of Transportation published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this proposed project in the Environmental Monitor.
Comments were received during the public comment period from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and from one member of the general public. A synopsis of the comments received and CTDOT's responses, where applicable, are included in the Environmental Review Checklist.
Name: Mr. Kevin Fleming, Transportation Planner
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Office of Environmental 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 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
1. Second Notice of Environmental Impact Evaluation for Mirror Lake Improvements Project
Address of Project Location: Mansfield Road at the University of Connecticut, Storrs
Municipality where it is located: Mansfield
Project Description: The University of Connecticut proposes to make improvements to Mirror Lake – an approximately 5-acre stormwater basin on the University’s Storrs Campus. The proposed project consists of the following elements:
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Dam safety improvements, including replacing the existing spillway with a stepped spillway and raising the dam’s earthen embankment
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Stormwater management improvements, including the rerouting of several discharge points into sedimentation forebays and regrading of upstream and downstream slopes
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Dredging and improvements to aquatic ecosystems, including the use of hydraulic and mechanical dredging to remove accumulated sediments and restore the lake depth
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Landscape improvements, including littoral zone plantings and site-specific amenities that enhance cultural benefits and improve access to the water’s edge
Scoping Notice and Post-Scoping Notice: Beginning on November 16, 2021, the University of Connecticut published the first of three Notices of Scoping in the Environmental Monitor. A public scoping meeting was held virtually on December 8, 2021, and the 30-day comment period closed on December 16, 2021. The University of Connecticut published a post-scoping notice on February 22, 2022 in the Environmental Monitor.
Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) Notice: On April 5, 2022, the University published a Notice of Availability of an Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) in the Environmental Monitor and held a public hearing on April 13, 2022. Additional information regarding the project, its notices and a recording of the hearing is available at https://updc.uconn.edu/mirror-lake.
A copy of the EIE is available at: https://s.uconn.edu/mleie
Questions and comments on the EIE were received through May 20, 2022. Additional questions or comments will be accepted until 5 pm on Friday, September 16, 2022to the agency contact below. Requests for a second public hearing on this EIE must be received by 5 pm on Friday, August 12, 2022. Email is preferred, please use “Mirror Lake EIE” in the subject line:
Name: Ian Dann, Project Manager
Agency: 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 submitted its Record of Decision to the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) for review, pending additional comments. A revised Record of Decision and OPM's Determination of Adequacy will each appear in a future edition 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
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: paul.aresta@ct.gov.
