2. 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 Maps:  Click 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:

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

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)

4. Notice of Scoping for UConn Main Accumulation Area

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Mansfield

Address of Possible Project Location: UConn North Campus Parcel G Site located between the existing North Hillside Road and C Lot on the University of Connecticut Storrs Campus, Mansfield, Connecticut

Project Description: UConn proposes to construct a new centralized facility for the temporary storage of chemical, biological/medical, and low-level radioactive wastes from the University’s academic research and teaching laboratories and facility operations on the Storrs campus. The University’s existing facility, known as the Main Accumulation Area (MAA), is located within the Fenton River watershed and the drainage basin of the Willimantic Reservoir, which is a public water supply. Although the facility has been operated safely since it was established in 1989, the University recognizes the public concern that remains about the location of the facility within the public water supply watershed.

The existing MAA facility, which is currently located on Horsebarn Hill Road, is sufficient to serve the current needs of the University and meets or exceeds state and federal requirements for safety and environmental protection. To protect public health and the environment and to ensure regulatory compliance, these wastes are managed by the UConn Department of Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, as well as University health and safety policies and procedures. However, space on the existing site is limited, resulting in poor circulation for waste transport vehicles, its design is inconsistent with state-of-the-art MAA facilities at other comparable research institutions, and the facility will likely not meet future needs based on planned research growth at the University.

To address these concerns, UConn convened an Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from the Town of Mansfield, Windham Water Works, local watershed organizations, the Connecticut Institute of Water Resources, and University of Connecticut staff from Public Safety, Environmental Policy, and Residential Life. The Advisory Committee conducted a siting study to identify and assess potential sites for an upgraded MAA facility. The study recommended a prioritized list of alternative sites, with the North Campus Parcel G site, located between the existing North Hillside Road and C Lot, being the preferred alternative. An Environmental Impact Evaluation will be prepared to further evaluate the preferred site as well as other alternatives considered, including the existing location (i.e., the No Action alternative).

Project Map:  Click 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: May 16, 2013

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

Date:      Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Time:      7:00 p.m. (Doors will be open at 6:00 p.m. to allow review of informational materials.)

Place:      Room 146, UConn Bishop Center; One Bishop Circle; Storrs, CT

Written comments should be sent to:

Name:    Jason Coite

Agency:   UConn - Office of Environmental Policy

Address: 31 LeDoyt Road, U-3055; Storrs, CT 06269

Fax:        860-486-5477

E-Mail:   jason.coite@uconn.edu

If you have questions about the Public Scoping Meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, please contact Mr. Coite as directed above.

UConn expects to release an Environmental Impact Evaluation for this project, for public review and comment, in September 2013.