Environmental Monitor
October 4, 2011
    1. New Haven - Hartford - Springfield Rail Improvements
   2. Demolition of Buildings #11 and #29 at the Former Cedarcrest Hospital, Newington
   3. University of Connecticut Health Center New Construction and Renovation Project, Farmington
        
  
   1. NEW! Windham Hospital Medical Building, Windham 
  
   No Environmental Impact Evaluations have been submitted for publication in this edition.
    1. Mystic Oral School, Groton (In Step I of Transfer Process)
                             

         

The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published onOctober 18, 2011.
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"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.

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

Municipalities where proposed project might be located: The proposed improvements are along the existing 62 mile rail corridor starting at Union Station in New Haven, Connecticut, traveling northward through Hartford, and continuing to Union Station in Springfield, Massachussetts.  It traverses the municipalities of New Haven, North Haven, Hamden, Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Newington, West Hartford, Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks, Enfield, Longmeadow and Springfield, Massachusetts.

Project Description: The New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) Rail Project will provide significant new regional passenger rail service options as a key component of a robust and vibrant multi-modal regional transportation system. With funding from both the new High-Speed Intercity Rail Program created by President Barack Obama in 2008, and the State of Connecticut, the NHHS Rail Project will provide the infrastructure and trains to operate some of the nation’s best passenger rail services. As the gateway to New England, the NHHS Rail Project will also facilitate improved service to Massachusetts, Vermont and eventually Montreal. New train service will connect communities, generate sustainable economic growth, help build energy independence, and provide links to travel corridors and markets within and beyond the region.

The following infrastructure improvements to the existing rail corridor will be built to accommodate projected 2030 service: 

  • Re-installation of 38.7 miles of double track which was previously removed by AMTRAK in 1989.
  • 5.8 miles of new passing sidings and rehabilitation of two existing sidings
  • 9 new interlockings (so trains can change tracks)  
  • signaling and control systems, including Positive Train Control 
  • Repair, rehabilitation and replacement of bridges and culverts  
  • Improvements at 38 at-grade crossing  
  • High-level platforms, pedestrian overpasses, parking, and other amenities at: 
    - Wallingford
    - Meriden
    - Berlin
    - Windsor 
    - Windsor Locks
  • Future new stations at North Haven, Newington, West Hartford and Enfield, and a new platform at New Haven State Street station
  • Layover and maintenance facility near SpringfieldMA station

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

Additional Project Information: Click here to be directed to the project website.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  October 20, 2011

Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public Scoping Meeting by sending such a request to the address below.  If a meeting is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the sponsoring agency shall schedule a Public Scoping Meeting.  Such requests must be made by September 30, 2011.

Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:

Name: Mr. Mark W. Alexander - Transportation Assistant Planning Director
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Fax: 860-594-3028
E-Mail: Mark.W.Alexander@ct.gov

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

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

The agency expects to release an Environmental Impact Evaluation for this project, for public review and comment by the end of 2011


2. Notice of Scoping for Demolition of Buildings #11 and #29 at the Former Cedarcrest Hospital Property

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Newington

Address of Possible Project Location: Russell Road 

Project Description: Demolish two building (#11 and #29) on the former grounds of Cedarcrest Hospital.  The two buildings are listed on the State Register of Historic Places.  The demolition is necessary for the proposed State Data Center.  The proposed construction does not meet the Environmental Classification Document (ECD) criteria warranting public scoping; therefore, this scoping notice is not subject to the proposed construction, but rather the demolition of historic buildings.  The Department is actively coordinating with the State Historic Preservation Office.

The former hospital just south of Building #29 may be demolished in the future, but under a separate project.  Therefore, this scoping notice is intended to also address any comments or potential impacts under the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act.

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

Aerial Photo of Site.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  October 20, 2011.

Any person can ask the sponsoring agency to hold a Public Scoping Meeting by sending such a request to the address below.  If a meeting is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the sponsoring agency shall schedule a Public Scoping Meeting.  Such requests must be made by September 30, 2011.

Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting, including questions about the scoping for this project should be sent to:

Name: Jeffrey Bolton, Supervising Environmental Analyst
Agency: Department of Construction Services
Environmental Planning
Address: 165 Capitol Avenue
Room 275
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Phone: 860-713-5706
Fax: 860-713-7250
E-Mail:

After the public scoping, the Department will make a determination whether an Environmental Impact Evaluation may be prepared for this project.

Other Information: See attached Initial Environmental Review.


3. Notice of Scoping for the University of Connecticut Health Center New Construction and Renovation Project

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Farmington

Addresses of Possible Project Location: Main Road, West Road, and East Road, University of Connecticut Health Center; Farmington, Connecticut

Project Description:  The University of Connecticut Health Center proposes to undertake construction of a new hospital bed tower, ambulatory care center, three parking garages, and related site work at its campus in Farmington, Connecticut.  The new construction is integral to the implementation of Bioscience Connecticut, an initiative that was recently approved by the Connecticut General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Dannel P. Malloy.  The capital improvement program also includes renovations and infrastructure improvements to the Health Center to support patient, educational, and research activities.  The project will take place on the upper campus to the north east, and west of John Dempsey Hospital on existing paved areas, and on the lower campus in the general vicinity of the existing Dowling Buildings.  The project will play an important strategic role in further positioning the Health Center as a top medical research and education institution and enhancing patient care services.

Project Maps:  Click Project Site Map to view a map of the project area. Click Master Plan Map to see conceptual project plan.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  October 6, 2011

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

DATE: September 22, 2011

TIME: 7:00 PM

PLACE: 16 Munson Road

Farmington, Connecticut 06030

Written comments and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:

Name: Kevin R. Norton, Project Manager
Agency: University of Connecticut Health Center
Address: 263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, Connecticut 06030
Phone: 860-679-2075
Fax: 860-679-1279
E-Mail: krnorton@uchc.edu

If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact Mr. Norton as directed above

The agency expects to release an Environmental Impact Evaluation for this project, for public review and comment, in (December, 2011).


Post-Scoping Notices: Environmental Impact Evaluation Not Required
This category is required by the October 2010 revision of the Generic Environmental Classification Document for State Agencies. A notice is published here if the sponsoring agency, after publication of a scoping notice and consideration of comments received, has determined that an  Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) does not need to be prepared for the proposed project.

1. Post-Scoping Notice for the Windham Hospital Medical Building

Municipality where project will be located: Windham

CEPA Determination:  On July 19, 2011 the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) published a Notice of Scopingto solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor.  The DECD has taken those comments into consideration and has concluded that the project does not require the preparation of Environmental Impact Evaluation under CEPA.

The agency's conclusion is documented in a Memo of Findings and Determination  and an Environmental Assessment Checklist .

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).


No Environmental Impact Evaluations have been submitted for review and comment in this edition.


State Land Transfer Notices


Connecticut General Statutes Section 4b-47requires 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 five-step process...


1. Notice of Proposed Land Transfer, Groton (Mystic)

Complete Address of Property: Oral School Road


Commonly used name of property or other identifying information: Mystic Oral School


Number of acres to be transferred: 47 (approx.)


Click to view map of property location


Description of Property


Below is some general information about the property.  It should not be considered a complete description of the property and should not be relied upon for making decisions.  If only a portion of a property is proposed for transfer, the description pertains only to the portion being transferred.

Brief Description of Historical and Current Uses: The buildings date from the late 1920s to the mid 70s. The Mystic Oral School campus was a school for the deaf until 1982 and then what is now DDS occupied the campus with permanent housing, administrative offices, and various day programs.  DDS ceased operations in 2010. Since that time other tenants have occupied space here on campus as well.  The entire campus will be closed on September 30, 2011.

The property to be transferred contains the following:

Structures:             Buildings in use   Buildings not in use       No Structures

Other Features:    Wooded land    
 Nonagricultural fields    
 Active agriculture

                          Paved areas       Ponds, streams, other water, wetlands

Water Supply:       Public water supply    On-site well                 Unknown
Waste Disposal:   Served by sewers      On-site septic system    Unknown


Click to view aerial view of property


The Locational Guide Map of the Connecticut Conservation and Development Policies Planidentifies the property as being in the following category(ies):
Regional Center Neighborhood Conservation Area Growth Area
 Rural Community Center  Rural Area
 Conservation Area
 Preservation Area  Existing Preserved Open Space

The property is in the following municipal zone(s):

Residential Industrial  Commercial  Institutional
 Other:  Water Resource Protection & Coastal Area Management

Not zoned  Not known


Special features of the property, if known
: None

Value of property, if known:
If checked, value is not known.
Type of Sale or Transfer:
Sale or transfer of property in fee

Sale or transfer of partial interest in the property (such as an easement).  Description of interest:

Proposed recipient, if known: Unknown

Proposed use by property recipient, if known: Unknown

The agency is proposing to transfer the property with the following restrictions on future uses:
If checked, the state is not currently proposing restrictions on future uses.

Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property: The State has deemed the property surplus, since the property is no longer needed for State use and no re-use proposals were received by other State agencies.

Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on October 6, 2011. 


Comments may include (but are not limited to) information you might have about significant natural resources or recreation resources on the property, as well as your recommendations for means to preserve such resources.


Written comments* should be sent to
:

Name:

Patrick O'Brien

Agency:

Office of Policy and Management

Address:

450 Capitol Avenue MS#52 ASP
Hartford, CT 06106-1379

E-Mail:

Patrick.Obrien@ct.gov


*E-Mail submissions are preferred. 

(Comments from state agencies must be on agency letterhead and signed by agency head.  Scanned copies are preferred.)

Please send a copy of any written comments to:

Name:

Shane P. Mallory, RPA

Agency:

Department of Administrative Services

Address:

165 Capitol Avenue, G-1

Hartford, CT 06106

E-Mail:

shane.mallory@ct.gov


What Happens Next?

To find out if this proposed transfer is the subject of further notices, check future editions of the Environmental Monitor.Sign up for e-alerts to receive a reminder e-mail on Environmental Monitor publication dates.

No Step II, Step III, Step IV or Step V Notices were submitted for publication in this edition.

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Copyright 2011, Connecticut Council on Environmental Quality