1. Notice of Scoping for the Connecticut State Police Firearms Training Facility Relocation

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Glastonbury

Address of Possible Project Location: Easterly end point of Toll Gate Road.

Project Description: The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), Division of State Police (CSP) is proposing to relocate its existing Firearms Training Facility and Program located on Nod Road in Simsbury to a site in Glastonbury. The proposed site is generally situated along Route 2 adjacent to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Public Shooting Range, located within the Meshomasic State Forest (see project location figures). A land transfer between DESPP and DEEP would occur as part of this project. The exact parcel configuration and project layout is to be determined during design; however, the estimated maximum acreage needed for the project is approximately 30 acres with the potential for less.

The project proposes to maintain and improve the CSP Firearms Training Program to benefit DESPP’s critical needs. Other state, federal, international, and host community law enforcement agencies would also utilize this facility as part of the inter-relationships DESPP has with various agencies. 

The following are the major facility elements associated with this relocation project:

·         Approximately 55,000 gross square feet (GSF) multipurpose training building(s). This building (or combinations of smaller buildings) would contain: classrooms to hold up to approximately 100 troopers and/or cadets; firearms simulator room; open area training room; indoor active-shooter training; gun cleaning and smithing; file storage room; staff offices; firearms vault; ammunition storage vault; recruit/staff kitchen and dinning area; reloading area; target storage area; bathrooms with lockers and showers; and a garage.

·         2 Range Control Towers (approximately 1 story high)

·         1 Qualifying Pistol Range (approximately 200 ft x 170 ft)

·         1 Active Shooter Training Range (approximately 200 ft x 170 ft)

·         1 Rifle Range (approximately 300 yd x 50 yd)

·         1 Shotgun Rifle Range (approximately 100 yd x 30 yd)

·         Approximately 125 parking spaces

·         Well and septic systems, telecom, and electrical utilities

Project MapsClick here to view a figure of the general project location and click here to view an aerial of the project site.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  May 16, 2013.

There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this project at:

DATE: Thursday, May 9, 2013

TIME: 7:00 PM

PLACE: Riverfront Community Center, Community Room, 300 Welles Street, Glastonbury, CT

NOTES: Doors open at 6:30 PM; meeting starts at 7:00 PM and will conclude after public comments.

On Behalf of DESPP, written comments are to be sent to the following participating agency contact:

Name:

Jeff Bolton, Supervising Environmental Analyst

Agency:

Department of Construction Services

Address:

165 Capitol Avenue, Room 482

Hartford, Connecticut  06106

Fax:

(860) 713-7250

E-Mail:

jeffrey.bolton@ct.gov

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

Name:

Lt. J. Paul Vance, Public Information Officer

Agency:

Department of Emergency Services and Public

Protection & the Connecticut State Police

Address:

1111 Country Club Road

Middletown, Connecticut 06457

Phone:

(860) 685-8230

Fax:

(860) 685-8301

E-Mail:

pio.dps@po.state.ct.us

The agency expects to release an Environmental Impact Evaluation for this project, for public review and comment, in August 2013.

Other information:

What is Scoping? (CEQ Website)

What to Expect at a Scoping Meeting (CEQ Website)

What is CEPA? (OPM Website)