Docket No. 217
Connecticut Light & Power Company
Development and Management Plan

Section IV – 345/115-kV Composite Overhead Transmission Line and
345- KV Overhead Transmission Line

Staff Report – December 1, 2004

On July 16, 2004, Connecticut Light Power Company (CL&P) submitted a segment of the Development and Management (D&M) Plan referred to as Section IV – 345- kV Overhead Transmission Line between Hoyts Hill Transition Station and Gallows Hill Road in Bethel and Redding, 345/115-kV composite overhead transmission line between Gallows Hill Road and Archers Lane Transition Station in Redding, the 345-kV Overhead transmission line from Norwalk Junction Transition Station to Norwalk Substation located in the Towns of Wilton and Norwalk. The D&M Plan identified a section of 115-kV XLPE cable to be installed underground around the Bethel Education Park in Bethel; this portion of the D&M Plan was previously approved by the Council in Section II.

The D&M Plan and alignment maps of the route (at a scale of 1" = 100’), outlines the installation of 3.6 miles of a new overhead 345-kV transmission line from Hoyts Hill Road Transition Station to Gallows Hill Road. The 345-kV conductors will be installed in a horizontal configuration on wood and laminated H-frame structures averaging 93 feet above ground level in height. The 345-kV installation requires a 150-foot right-of-way. Three locations between Chestnut Ridge Road and Nashville Road Extension would require steel monopoles to raise the height of the conductor in a vertical configuration to meet National Electric Safety Code height relative to width of right-of-way which will be 135 feet. It should be noted that in this section the existing overhead 115-kV line will be removed and placed underground as outlined in D&M Plan Section II previously approved by the Council. Also, structure 27 not identified on the D&M Plan was removed because of landowner negotiations.

At Gallows Hill Road the underground 115-kV cable will transition to overhead and be installed on a new steel double-circuit tower with the 345-kV conductors. This section of the right-of-way corridor will require an additional 45 to 60 feet in an easterly direction. The combined 345-kV and 115-kV conductors will be vertical configuration and supported by towers averaging 127 feet above ground level in height for a distance of 1.3 miles to the Archers Lane 2 Transition Station. The new 345-kV transmission line will transition to underground and be placed within public road rights-of-way (Archers Lane, Diamond Hill Road, Umpawaug Road, State Routes 107 and 7) as previously approved in D&M Plan Section I. In this section a steep slope and an inland wetland exists between structure 38 and 39. Council staff recommends CL&P approach structure 39 from the north to avoid the steep slope and inland wetland.

The underground 345-kV transmission cables will terminate at the Norwalk Transition Station previously approved in D&M Plan Section V. The cables would transition from underground to overhead and follow a new right-of-way adjacent to the Super 7 corridor west of the railroad in a southerly direction to Kent Road where it will rejoin the existing right-of-way. To accommodate the new 345-kV line within the existing right-of-way an existing 115-kV line would be installed underground as approved in D&M Plan Section II. The Arrowhead Residential Community proposed to CL&P that since this circuit was being removed from service that the removal of structures and abandonment of the right-of-way could be achieved. This is not the case because two 115-kV circuits and a single 27.6-kVcircuit still exist within this existing right-of-way and are not planned to be taken out of service. When the existing 27.6-kV substation in Wilton is upgraded to a 115-kV substation then the 27.6-kV line could be removed from service. At Kent Road crossing in a southerly direction the existing 27.6-kV line with supporting structures on the westerly side of the right-of-way would be removed to accommodate the new 345-kV overhead line. The 27.6-kV line would follow Main Street (Route 7) south to the Norwalk Substation. The transmission structures used between Norwalk Transition Station and Norwalk Substation will consist of steel poles to closely match existing 115-kV steel poles. The heights of the steel poles would average 112 feet above ground level. This is 4 feet higher than what was identified in Docket 217 record. The increase in height is caused by a landowner (Silvermine Golf Course) who requested a vertical structure, to minimize the ROW expansion onto its property, and several road crossings including Routes 15 and 7 where clearance to ground must be more than elsewhere. The transmission conductors would primarily be designed as a delta configuration to limit structure height. At the request of some landowners a vertical configuration would be used. Also, where angles greater than 30 degrees (where the line makes turns) would require two structures to support the three phases of the 345-kV conductor with exceptions being the first structure coming out of the Norwalk Transition Station and the last structure entering the Norwalk Substation. In this section the D&M Plan is to complete for identification of access roads to structure 52, from structure 58 through 65, 68, and structures 78 through 85. Staff recommends that site plans identifying these access roads be submitted prior to commencement of construction.

Furthermore, CL&P would also replace existing structures for two existing 115-kV circuits with new structures beginning south of Perry Avenue, crossing Broad Street and into the Norwalk Substation.

Construction of the overhead transmission lines requires use of existing access roads and construction of new access roads both to widths of 15 feet. CL&P would install crushed stone, gravel and or timber mat as a base for access roads. Structure construction would require a 25 foot cleared area around the structure in addition to lay down areas for materials, to install the structure and for conductor pulling sites. No lay down or pulling station sites have been identified and Council staff would recommend such locations be provided prior to commencement of construction. Also, steel poles would require reinforced concrete foundations and wood poles would be direct buried. Excavated material would be used to improve grade around the structure for construction and excess material would be removed and disposed in accordance with state and/or federal regulations.

CL&P consulted with the Towns of Bethel, Redding, Wilton, and Norwalk and the State Department of Transportation (DOT).

The D&M Plan identifies the locations and types of facilities to be used for Section IV of the project, and describes the general procedures for:

• Installation of facilities, construction schedule and methods, procedures for environmental inspection, project administration, and techniques for landowner and agency notifications and consultations;
• Restoration of work areas and areas disturbed by construction (e.g., contractor yard, staging areas, and areas associated with road, stream and wetland crossings);
• Traffic control; and
• Long term operation and maintenance of the right-of-way.

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 trench and disturbed areas to pre-construction conditions.

Special procedures have been developed for traffic, stream and inland wetland crossings, electric utility crossings, other subsurface utility crossings (i.e., water, sewer, telephone, natural gas , and cable) to include Call Before You Dig, 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. While archeological reconnaissance surveys are being conducted none have been provided and staff recommends that such surveys be submitted 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.

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. CL&P will be able to leave inlands wetlands undisturbed between structures 1 and 2; 7 and 8; 17 and 18; 21 and 22; 24 and 25; 29 and 30; and 33 and 34. Certain locations did not identify erosion and sediment controls and Council staff recommends that site plans showing locations of erosion and sediment controls for structures 13, 14, 24, 78, 80, and 81 be provided prior to commencement of construction and that the erosion and sediment controls and comply with the 2002 Connecticut Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control.

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 no action on these items in the D&M plan. Such plans should be provided to the Council for review and approval prior to commencement of operations.

CL&P will notify landowners directly along the rights-of way or within 50 feet of the center line 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 that landowners directly along the rights-of way or within 50 feet of the center line be notified not less than 48 hours prior to the initiation of construction and/or blasting and changing 30 days to 15 days to be more responsive to constituent concerns.

CL&P proposes to begin construction of the overhead portion of the transmission line after the underground portions are near complete. No revised schedule for construction has been provided. Council staff recommends CL&P provide two weeks advance notice prior to commencement of construction and anticipated time of completion.

Prior to commencement of construction CL&P requires that all personnel (CL&P and contractor) involved in construction activities attend a 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 BSC Group previously recognized by the Council in approving the D&M Plan for the Norwalk Substation, 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 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, CL&P will conduct a telephone conference with Council staff to present the proposed modification and receive verbal approval from the Council 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 IV D&M Plan as follows:

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 a spill report.

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

That the location of the contractor’s yard and staging areas be identified and provided to the Council prior to use.

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

That CL&P notify landowners directly along the rights-of way or within 50 feet of the center line not less than 48 hours prior to the initiation of construction and/or blasting.

That CL&P identify and provide lay down or pulling station sites prior to commencement of construction.

That the D&M plans for erosion and sediment controls for structures 13, 14, 24, 78, 80, and 81 be provided prior to commencement of construction and that all erosion and sediment controls comply with the 2002 Connecticut Guidelines for Erosion and Sediment Control.

That CL&P approach structure 39 from the north to avoid the steep slope and inland wetland.

That archeological reconnaissance surveys be submitted 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.

To postpone review and approval of the operation and rights-of-way maintenance plan and post-construction electric and magnetic field monitoring plan.