train passing wetlands

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITOR
The official site for project information under
the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act

January 6, 2009
Scoping Notices
 
    1. New Haven - Hartford - Springfield Commuter Rail Improvements
Environmental Impact Evaluations
  
   1. New Hartford Water Pollution Control Facility - New Hartford
   2. NEW! Naugatuck Renaissance Place - Naugatuck
State Land Transfers
  
   There are no state land transfers posted for public notice or comment in this edition.
The next issue will be published on January 20, 2009.
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Scoping Notices
Scoping Notices have been issued for the following state projects.  These projects are 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.

 

1. Notice of Scoping for the  New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail Improvements

Municipalities where proposed project might be located: New Haven, North Haven, Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Newington, Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Enfield, Longmeadow, MA, and Springfield, MA.

Project Description: The proposed improvements include a Start Up Service as proposed in the Final Report of the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail Implementation Study, June 2005 and a Full Build Alternative.  The Start-up Service would include the following:

Service would operate bi-directionally, Monday through Friday on a 30 minute peak hour schedule (at least 14 one-way trips).

Service would be between New Haven and Springfield.

A minimum of 18 miles of extended double track sections will be added to improve reliability and provide 30 minute headways meeting critical times in New Haven, Hartford and Springfield.

Service would supplement existing Amtrak service on the corridor. Adjustments to Amtrak’s schedule would be attempted when possible in conjunction with operating agreements with Amtrak.

Along with the existing nine passenger stations being served along this corridor, four additional stations would be added at North Haven, Newington, Hartford (Flatbush Avenue), and Enfield.

The existing Windsor Locks station would be enhanced to provide facilities to accommodate a waiting area and transfers between the train and the shuttle bus to Bradley Airport.

Local bus service will be modified to provide appropriate service to the stations.

All stations would have high level platforms and grade-separated pedestrian facilities, considered to be necessary from an operational standpoint.

All stations would include high-level platforms, pedestrian amenities with grade separated crossings, bicycle storage and racks, and any additional parking required to accommodate projected ridership.

The Full Build Alternative would include:

Double-track the remaining 20.6 miles of single track sections to improve reliability and allow service at least as frequent as every 15 minutes.

Construct second high-level platforms and grade-separated pedestrian facilities at Wallingford , Berlin and Windsor Locks Stations. It is of note that these stations were on single-track segments in the start-up service and therefore only one platform and no grade-separated pedestrian facilities were necessary. With the additional double-tracking of the entire line, these elements would be necessary.

Construct an additional station in the Wharton Brook area on the former Pratt and Whitney property as development takes place.

Provide new commuter rail parking in the new Meriden parking structure to be constructed with downtown development plans in Meriden.

Project MapClick here to view a map of the project area.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:Thursday, January 15, 2009.

There will be four public scoping meetings for this project as follows:

DATE : Monday, December 8, 2008.

TIME : 6:00 PM

PLACE : TD Banknorth Conference Center , 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA.

DATE : Tuesday, December 9, 2008.

TIME : 6:00 PM

PLACE : Hartford Union Station, One Union Place, Hartford, CT.  

DATE : Thursday, December 11, 2008.

TIME : 6:00 PM

PLACE : Windsor Town Hall, 275 Broad Street, Windsor, CT.   

DATE : Tuesday, December 16, 2008.

TIME : 6:00 PM

PLACE : North Haven Memorial Library, 17 Elm Street, North Haven, CT.  

The Implementation Study, which is the basis for the EA/EIE may be viewed in person at the Connecticut Department of Transportation Headquarters in Newington, CT. or by clicking on the following link: http://www.nhhsrail.com/

Written comments throughout the scoping process should be sent to:

Name: Mr. Edgar T. Hurle - Transportation Planning Director
Agency: State of Connecticut Department of Transportation
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Fax: 860-594-3377
E-Mail: Edgar.Hurle@po.state.ct.us

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

Name: Mr. Stephen V. Delpapa - Transportation Supervising Planner
Agency: State of Connecticut Department of Transportation
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Phone: 860-594-2941
Fax: 860-594-3028
E-Mail: Stephen.Delpapa@po.state.ct.us

The agency expects to release an Draft Environmental Impact Evaluation for this project, for public review and comment, in the Fall of 2009.


EIE Notices
The following Environmental Impact Evaluations (EIE) have been completed by state agencies and are available for review and comment in this edition. 

 

1) Notice of EIE for New Hartford Water Pollution Control Facility

Municipality where project is proposed: New Hartford

Project Description: The Town of New Hartford has conducted a facilities planning study for its wastewater treatment system because the wastewater treatment plant’s average flow has exceeded ninety percent of its design capacity, the facilities that were built in 1968 have exceeded their design life, and projected growth patterns will extend into unsewered areas.  The study area includes the treatment facility, areas next to the public water supply, industrial parks, known growth areas, and a proposed development corridor along the western side of Route 44.  The recommendation of the study is the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant from 90,000 gallons per day to 400,000 gallons per day and will include advanced treatment to protect water quality and meet the requirements of the anti-degradation policy for the Upper Farmington River. This EIE is an update from the one previous noticed and published in February 2006 for a design flow of 250,000 gallons per day.

Project Map:  Click here to view a map of the project area.  Click here to view a treatment plant site layout diagram.  Click here to view a map of sewer service areas and sewer avoidance areas.

Comments on this EIE will be accepted until the close of business on: January 30, 2009

The public can view a copy of this EIE at:

Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Water Management
Municipal Facilities Section (2nd Floor)
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106

or at the office of the

New Hartford Town Clerk
Town Hall
530 Main St.
New Hartford, CT 06057

The EIE can also be found online at the DEP website by clicking here.

Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public Hearing on this EIE by sending such a request to the address below by December 26, 2008.  If a hearing is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the Department of Environmental Protection must schedule a Public Hearing.

Send your comments about this EIE to:

Name: Stacy Pappano, Sanitary Engineer
Agency: Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Water Management
Address: 79 Elm St.
Hartford, CT 06106
E-Mail: stacy.pappano@ct.gov
Phone: (860) 424-3362
Fax: (860) 424-4067

If you have questions about a public hearing, or where you can review this EIE, or similar matters, please contact Stacy Pappano as directed above.


2) Notice of EIE for the Naugatuck Renaissance Place

Municipality(ies) where project is proposed: Naugatuck, CT

Address of Possible Project Location(s): Along the Naugatuck River in downtown Naugatuck.

Project Description: The Borough of Naugatuck is proposing to undertake a mixed-use redevelopment of an approximately 60-acre site along the Naugatuck River in downtown Naugatuck. The proposed action, known as Naugatuck Renaissance Place, is an environmentally sustainable mixed-use waterfront development that will be constructed in several phases. The project includes a combination of new development and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, with a development program comprised of residential units, retail/commercial space, office space, entertainment space, and parking. The project activities are also envisioned to include infrastructure improvements for access to the site from Route 8 and linkage to a proposed riverwalk along the Naugatuck River.

Project Map(s):  Click here to view an aerial photo depicting major features of the proposed project area. Click here for a topographic map of the proposed project area.

The public can view a copy of this EIE which will be available from January 6, 2009 at:

·        Naugatuck Town Clerk’s Office, 229 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770

·        Naugatuck Mayor’s Office, 229 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770

·        Howard Whittemore Library, 243 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770

·        DECD, 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106

There is a public hearing scheduled for this EIE on:

DATEFebruary 5, 2009

TIME: 6:30 pm

PLACE: Naugatuck Town Hall, 4th Floor, 229 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770

NOTES: In case of snow cancellation the Public Hearing will be held on February 18, 2009, at 6:30 pm at Naugatuck Town Hall.

Comments on this EIE will be accepted from January 6, 2009 until the close of business on February 20, 2009

Send your comments about this EIE to:

Name: Maya Loewenberg
Agency: Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106-7106 
E-Mail: maya.loewenberg@ct.gov

If you have questions about the public hearing, or where you can review this EIE, or similar matters, please contact:

Name: Maya Loewenberg
Agency: Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson, Hartford, CT 06106-7106 
E-Mail: maya.loewenberg@ct.gov
Phone: 860-270-8155


 
  
State Land Transfer Notices
There are no state land transfers posted for public notice or comment in this edition.

 
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Copyright 2006, Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality