Docket No. 217
Connecticut Light and Power Company
Development and Management Plan
Norwalk Junction Transition Station
Wilton, Connecticut
November 17, 2004

On July 2, 2004, the Connecticut Light Power Company (CL&P) submitted to the Connecticut Siting Council (Council) for review and approval the Development and Management (D&M) Plans for transition stations at the following locations: Hoyt’s Hill Road, Bethel, Archers Lane, Redding, and Norwalk Junction, Norwalk. This Council staff report will concentrate on the Norwalk Junction transition site.

The Norwalk Junction site will provide a transition from 345-kV high pressure fluid-filled (HPFF) underground transmission cable to overhead transmission line. The site is situated on an approximate 17.5-acre parcel of property located approximately 1,600 feet south of the Route 7/Route 33 intersection and between Danbury Road (Route 7) to the east and the Norwalk River to the west in the Town of Wilton. Also, on this parcel is a 64,000 square foot storage building with parking lot and access drive, CL&P right-of-way and transmission lattice tower all located south of the site. A lumber yard is adjacent and north to the site. There are three residences within 400 feet, with the nearest being 320 feet, to the east across Route 7 and buffered by vegetation. The transition site consists of a grassy area adjacent to Route 7 and a hedge of evergreens that screens a paved parking lot. Both the vegetation and pavement would be removed during construction.

Access to the site would be via two access gravel drives from Route 7, a 110-foot drive from the north and 75-foot drive from the south. Both access drives change from an elevation above mean sea level (amsl) of 145 feet at Route 7 to an existing site grade of 140 feet amsl. The north access drive will require a culvert including reconstruction of an existing grass-lined drainage swale around the north side of the transition station. Other than the drainage swale, CL&P does not propose to change elevation contours to develop the facility. Approximately one-third of the site is within the Federal Emergency Management Agency floodway and most of the site is within the 100-year flood boundary. A stream channel encroachment permit will be required from the Department of Environmental Protection and Council staff recommends that this permit be submitted prior to commencement of construction.

The transition station site would be a 340-foot by 125-foot compound, surrounded by a chain-link fence, consisting of a single 115-kV transition pole, a 345-kV transition structure, two shunt reactors (one for each circuit), power switching equipment, redundant battery system, 14-foot by 40-foot relay and control enclosure, 14-foot by 50-foot self-enclosed pressurization plant to maintain a 200 pounds per square inch pressure in the HPFF pipe, station transformer, and emergency generator. The 115-kV, 85-foot tall transition steel pole will convert overhead transmission lines to XLPE underground cables, and be located in the northwest corner of the transition site. Both the relay and control enclosure and pressurization plant would be located on the east side of the compound upslope of the Norwalk River and outside the FEMA floodway. Also, foundations for the enclosures, shunt reactors, and emergency generator will be elevated about five feet which would place this equipment above the 100 year flood boundary.

The 345-kV termination support structure is configured as a single vertical rectangular box integrated within the middle section of the bus equipment. These structures are 106 feet in total height and 64 feet in width. Also, the shunt reactors are placed on the north and south sides of the bus equipment. This configuration reduces the width of the site by 50 feet. This reduction allows for an 80 foot setback from Route 7 slightly less than the Town of Wilton’s setback requirement of 100 feet.

Dielectric-fluid spill containment for the 15,000 gallon reservoir in the pressurization plant will consist of a berm beneath the storage tank integrated into the foundation with a fluid level alarm. Dielectric-fluid spill containment for the shunt reactors will consist of concrete basin, with the walls installed above the 100 year flood boundary.

Council staff recommends site clearing and grading be conducted west of the erosion and sediment controls and no further north of the E&S controls except for sight line clearing and that CL&P minimize sight line clearing and grading adjacent to the stream crossing on the south end of the property.

CL&P proposes landscaping along Danbury Road and on the north side of the transition station. The Town of Wilton has provided comments that the hemlock plantings be maintained particularly for the wooly adelgid; that conifers be added to the north side; that plantings be added on the USA Storage property to the south to buffer visual sightline looking north; that conifers be no less than 8-10 feet in height and deciduous trees have a diameter no less than three inches; and the existing electric distribution line be relocated to allow the trees to grow without obstruction. CL&P proposes to retain a maintenance contract for all plantings including replacement and a plan to control wooly adelgid on the hemlock. Also, CL&P will add conifers to the north side of the transition station, and install conifers 8-10 feet in height and deciduous trees with a 3.5 to 4 inch diameter at breast height. CL&P objects to the plantings on USA Storage property because it will not have control of maintenance and could be inconsistent with use of the existing right-of-way. Also, moving the existing electric distribution line would not have a direct effect on future growth of proposed plantings as the plantings would be located away from the distribution lines. Movement of the existing distribution line may be best served during proposed Route 7 expansion by the DOT. Council staff recommends vegetation be native species of New England and that the deciduous trees be no less than 3 inch diameter at breast height and coniferous tree heights range from 8 to 10 feet tall consistent with the Town of Wilton’s comments and will not require CL&P to plant vegetation on property it does not own. Furthermore, landscaping shall be placed as not to interfere with future expansion plans of Route 7 nor in proximity of the existing overhead distribution lines.

Project administration is overseen by CL&P. CL&P will use temporary construction offices in vicinity of the project. Similarly, CL&P’s construction contractor will establish a contractor’s yard for office trailers, staging of equipment, materials and supplies, and a parking area for construction workers. This contractor’s yard will be about two to four acres in size and located proximal to the project. No contractor’s yard or other staging areas have been identified in the D&M Plan. Council staff recommends that the contractor’s yard and staging areas be identified and provided to the Council prior to use.

The D&M Plan specifically outlines the methods of construction and guidelines for clearing, temporary access roads, trenching/excavation, soil erosion and sedimentation control, dewatering, blasting, spoil placement, and restoration of disturbed areas to pre-construction conditions.

Special procedures have been developed for traffic, work within and adjacent to stream and inland wetlands, noise sensitive receptors, fugitive particulate emissions, dust and mud control, management of solid and/or hazardous substances, protection of cultural and historic resources including an unanticipated discoveries plan, visual impact and residential mitigation plan, and worksite safety plan. No archeological reconnaissance survey for this site has been provided and staff recommends that such surveys be submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office and Council prior to commencement of construction.

Work days will be Monday through Saturday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Extensions of the workday and hours may occur on a temporary and case-by-case basis. Council staff recommends that the Council be notified of workday and/or work hour extensions verbally, as soon as possible, documented in a construction progress report.

CL&P developed a soil erosion/sedimentation control and revegetation plan and procedures regarding access road development, erosion control and minimization of effects on natural systems incidental to construction. Also, CL&P developed a wetland vegetation monitoring and maintenance plan and invasive species control and management plan and these plans comply with the 2002 Connecticut Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control. Council staff recommends that erosion and sediment controls be installed as proposed on the west side of the site to protect the Norwalk River.

A Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan has been developed to address actions used to prevent spills in addition to actions that shall be taken should any spills occur including emergency notification procedures. The on-site Environmental Inspectors are responsible for ensuring that contractors implement and maintain spill control measures. All oil and hazardous materials management will be in accordance with local, state and federal guidelines. Council staff recommends CL&P attach copies of spill reports with its construction progress report.

CL&P provided information on the operation and rights-of-way maintenance plan and post-construction electric and magnetic field monitoring plan. Council staff recommends that post-construction electric and magnetic field monitoring plan be reviewed prior to commencement of operations.

CL&P will notify landowners directly along the rights-of way not less than 48 hours prior to the initiation of construction and/or blasting. A toll-free number, staffed during working hours and voicemail other hours, will be available specific to the project. All calls will be documented which will initiate a protocol of response. If, within 30 days an issue or concern cannot be resolved, CL&P will forward to the Council relevant information and summary of activities that were performed to attempt closure. Council staff recommends landowners directly along the rights-of way are notified not less than 48 hours prior to the initiation of construction and/or blasting, and changing the period of resolution from 30 days to 15 days to be more responsive to constituent concerns.

CL&P proposes to begin construction of the transition station fourth quarter of 2004 with a projected completion date of November 2005. CL&P contends full restoration work may require additional time into the spring of 2006. Council staff recommends CL&P provide two week advance notice prior to commencement of construction.

Prior to commencement of construction CL&P requires all personnel (CL&P and Contractor) involved in construction activities attend project specific safety and environmental training session. These training sessions summarize the D&M Plan and other permit/certificate requirements governing the project. The training will emphasize the importance of workplace safety and environmental compliance including disciplinary action. Furthermore, an environmental inspector, the BCS Group, will be responsible for inspections and weekly reporting to verify that the construction is performed in accordance with environmental requirements.

CL&P proposes the following procedures to address deviations of the D&M Plan:

• For proposed deviations prior to the start of construction or well in advance of commencement of any specified activity, CL&P will submit a request in writing for review and approval by the Council;
• For proposed deviations during construction based upon field conditions, conduct a telephone conference with Council staff to present the proposed modification and receive verbal approval from the Council’s Chairman with written specification of the deviation to be submitted within 24 hours after the request; and
• Implementation of deviations to the D&M Plan that are approved by the Council will be documented within the monthly monitoring reports to be submitted by the independent environmental inspector.

Council staff recommends that proposed deviations be authorized by the Chairman with written specification of the deviation submitted within 24 hours after the request and all other changes require advance notification and Council approval or be subject to enforcement by the Attorney General.

To summarize, the Council staff recommends approval of the Section V D&M Plan, Norwalk Transition Station, with the following conditions:

That CL&P provide two weeks advance notice prior to commencement of construction.

That CL&P provide a bi-weekly activity report of construction, including spill reports.

That CL&P provide a weekly Environmental Inspector’s report.

That CL&P provide a copy of the Stream Channel Encroachment Permit prior to commencement of construction.

That CL&P plant vegetation with native species of New England and that the deciduous trees are no less than 3 inch diameter at breast height and coniferous tree heights range from 8 to 10 feet tall and will not require CL&P to plant vegetation on property it does not own. Furthermore, landscaping shall be placed as not to interfere with future expansion plans of Route 7 nor in proximity of the existing overhead distribution lines.

That CL&P provide the location of the contractor’s yard and staging areas prior to use.

That CL&P notify the Council of workday and/or work hour extensions verbally and documented in a construction progress report.

That CL&P notify landowners directly along the rights-of way not less than 48 hours prior to the initiation of construction and/or blasting.

That erosion and sediment controls be installed as proposed on the west side of the site to protect the Norwalk River and shall comply with the 2002 Connecticut Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control.

That archeological reconnaissance surveys be submitted to the SHPO and Council prior to commencement of construction.

That CL&P submit non-resolution of constituent concerns after 15 days to the Council.

That proposed deviations are authorized by the Chairman with written specification of the deviation submitted within 24 hours after the request and all other changes require advance notification and Council approval or be subject to enforcement by the Attorney General.

That a post-construction electric and magnetic field monitoring plan be reviewed prior to commencement of operations.