Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

Environmental Monitor

March 19, 2013 

  1.    NEW! Runway Safety Area Project, Igor I. Sikorsky Airport, Stratford
  
   No Post-Scoping Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
   
  1.    Quinebaug Regional Technical Park, Putnam
  2.    Eastern Connecticut State University Master Plan Update, Willimantic, Mansfield
 
     No State Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.  
 
The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on  April 2, 2013.
 
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Scoping Notices

"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.
The following Scoping Notice has been submitted for review and comment.
1. Notice of Scoping for Runway Safety Area Project, Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Stratford, CT

Address of Project Location: Sikorsky Airport and immediate vicinity

Background:

This project was subject to previous environmental studies, including a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)/Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE), which led to a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a written re-evaluation of the EIS in 2011.  These documents evaluated the project's scope, alternatives and environmental impacts.  The documents were made available for public review and were the subject of public hearings.  The purpose of this Public Scoping notice and subsequent meeting is to satisfy the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) requirements for providing public opportunity to comment on the project. 

Project Description:

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and the City of Bridgeport are proposing to construct improvements to the Runway Safety Area (RSA) adjacent to Runway 24 at the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR), in Stratford, Connecticut.  A partial relocation of State Route (SR) 113 is required to accommodate the RSA improvements.  These safety improvements include the construction of an Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) beyond the Runway 24 threshold.  The proposed improvements also include the rehabilitation of existing Runway 6-24.  A congressional mandate has been issued requiring completion of the airport safety improvements by December 2015.  There will also be a reduction in flooding of Route 113, and improved stormwater management and treatment as a result of the project.

The proposed project includes the following activities within the airport proper:

  • Construction of an RSA that is 500 feet in width (250 feet on either side of the runway centerline) by 300 feet in length, including installation of an EMAS (100 feet in width by 300 feet in length);
  • Installation of new runway edge lights on Runway 6-24;
  • Relocation of Runway End Identifier Lights (REILS);
  • Construction of a new connector taxiway (35 feet in width by 300 feet in length) from Taxiway A to Runway 24 and demolition of the existing connector Taxiway D at the intersection of Runways 6-24 and 11-29;
  • Removal of the existing blast fence located adjacent to Runway 24;
  • Installation of new Airport Security Fence;
  • Construction of a Turn Around for Runway 6;
  • Rehabilitation and removal of pavement (reduction in width) on Runway 6-24;
  • Relocation of the Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) and Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) visual landing aids on Runways 6 and 24; and
  • The construction of wetland mitigation and listed species mitigation areas.
The proposed project includes the following activities within the vicinity of Route 113:
  • Construction of a realigned segment of Route 113 including an improved stormwater drainage system and multi-use path (to accommodate the RSA);
  • Relocation of all underground utilities from the existing Route 113 right-of-way to the proposed right-of-way;
  • Closure and removal of the abandoned segment of Route 113;
  • Delineation, removal and disposal of existing Raymark Superfund Site waste materials within the vicinity of the realigned Route 113;
  • Construction of a new tidal channel to convey treated stormwater runoff and tidal flows;
  • Wetland mitigation activities including restoration and enhancement areas; and
  • Creation and enhancement of several listed species mitigation areas.

Project Maps:  Click here to view a map of the project area.

                       Click here to view proposed construction features.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  Thursday April 18, 2013

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

DATE: April 3, 2013

TIME: 7:00 pm

PLACE: Stratford Hotel and Conference Center, 225 Lordship Boulevard, Stratford, CT 06615

NOTES:The meeting location is accessible to persons with disabilities.  Deaf and hearing impaired persons wishing to attend this meeting and requiring an interpreter may make arrangements by contacting the Department's Office of Communication at 860-594-3062 (voice only) at least five days prior to the meeting.

Written comments should be sent to:

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

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

Name: Mr. Richard B. Armstrong, Transportation Principal Engineer
Agency:
Bureau of Engineering and Construction
Connecticut Department of Transportation
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Phone: 860-594-3187
E-Mail: richard.armstrong@ct.gov
 
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.
No Post-Scoping Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
 
 
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).
The following EIEs have been submitted for publication in this edition.
1. Notice of EIE for the Quinebaug Regional Tech Park

Municipality where project is proposed: Putnam

Address of Possible Project Location: Land adjacent to I-395 on the west bank of the Quinebaug River

Project Description: This Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) has been prepared for the Proposed Action on behalf of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) which is the sponsoring agency and cooperating state agencies the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department Social Services (DSS).

The Proposed Action is the construction of a new vehicular bridge at the intersection of Kennedy Drive and the I-395 Southbound off ramp at Exit 95 and a new regional YMCA facility. The purpose of the bridge is to provide access to a 267± acre site that is targeted for economic development, which would be an indirect or secondary consequence of the new bridge. The DSS is providing a portion of the funding needed to construct the YMCA facility which will include a 48,000± square foot (SF) building, surface parking, and athletic fields. By providing improved access to the Site, the new bridge has the potential for creating secondary actions that, in addition to the YMCA construction, include the development of the Quinebaug Regional Technical Park (QRTP), a light industrial type of development focused on “green technologies”. A significant portion of the QRTP will be set aside for conservation to protect rare species habitat, wetlands, floodplains, farmland soils and a portion of the proposed Aquifer Protection Area (APA).

Three site development alternatives were evaluated in an iterative process that evolved through the analysis of environmental constraints.  It is estimated that with the new zoning regulations being drafted, the environmental and physical constraints of the site, the preferred alternative would be approximately 20 building lots of 7 – 8 acres in size that would each be capable of supporting up to 70,000 square feet of such development in addition to the YMCA.

Project Map:  Click here to view a map of the project area.

Comments on this EIE will be accepted until the close of business on: April 22, 2013.

A copy of this EIE will be available for public review starting March 8, 2013 at:

The Putnam Town Clerk, 126 Church Street, Putnam, CT, 06260

The Putnam Public Library, 225 Kennedy Dr Putnam, CT, 06260

It also will be available at the following website starting March 8, 2013:

http://www.gza.com/quinebaug-regional-technical-park-environmental-impact-evaluation

There is no public hearing scheduled for this EIE. The agency will hold a public hearing if 25 or more persons or an association that has at least 25 members requests a hearing. A public hearing request must be made no later than March 18, 2013.

To request a public hearing contact:

Name: Nelson Tereso, Project Manager
Agency:
Department of Economic and Community Development
Office of Financial & Technical Review
Address:
505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106
E-Mail: nelson.g.tereso@ct.gov
Phone: 860-270-8213

Send your comments about this EIE to:

Name: Mark Hood
Agency: Department of Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106
E-Mail: mark.hood@ct.gov
2. Notice of EIE for the Eastern Connecticut State University 2008 Campus Plan Update

Municipalities where project is proposed: Windham (Willimantic) and Mansfield

Address of Possible Project Location: 83 Windham Street, Windham, CT (see Project Location figures)

Project Description:  The Eastern Connecticut State University Campus Master Plan is part of an update to the master plan first prepared in 1992 and revised in 1997.  The Plan is a baseline for future campus development and funding requests to the Board of Regents.  The Plan update for Eastern is a guide for incremental growth that responds to stated needs, planned expansions, and changes in facilities needs.  Eastern is comprised two campuses: the Main Campus, located south of Route 6; and the Mansfield Campus which consists of athletic facilities, located north of the Route 6 within walking distance of the main campus.

The Plan is a ten-year comprehensive physical development plan to enhance the academic, residential, and community life of the campus.  It identifies new building and renovation projects that should be made by the target year 2017; with the understanding that all projects may not be accomplished over the ten-year period. 

The full Plan can be viewed online here: https://www.ct.gov/dcs/cwp/view.asp?a=4224&Q=520014&PM=1

Project Map(s):  (1) General Location figure (2) Campus Master Plan figure

Comments on this EIE will be accepted until the close of business on: April 19, 2013

The public can view a copy of this EIE at: https://www.ct.gov/dcs/cwp/view.asp?a=4224&Q=520014&PM=1

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 March 15, 2013.  If a hearing is requested by 25 or more individuals, or by an association that represents 25 or more members, the Sponsoring and Participating Agencies will schedule a Public Hearing.

Send your comments about this EIE to:

Name:

Keith Epstein, AIA

Title:

Director of Capital Projects

Agency:

Connecticut Board of Regents

Address:

61 Woodland Street

Hartford, Connecticut  06105

Fax:

860-493-0059

E-Mail:

epsteink@ct.edu

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

Name:

Jeff Bolton

Title:

Supervising Environmental Analyst

Agency:

Connecticut Department of Construction Services

Address:

165 Capitol Avenue, Room 482

Hartford, Connecticut  06106

Phone:

860-713-5706

E-Mail:

jeffrey.bolton@ct.gov

Other information: http://www.easternct.edu/

 
 
 
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.

No State Land Transfer Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
 
 
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