Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

Environmental Monitor

October 22, 2013 

  1.    Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park - Revised, Bethel.
  1.     NEW! Former Connecticut Bus Transit Facility, New Haven.
  
    No Environmental Impact Evaluation has been submitted for publication in this edition.
   
  1.    NEW! Former Cedarcrest Hospital, Newington - Recommendation of the Commissioner of Energy & Environmental Protection. 
The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on  November 5, 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 Notices have been submitted for review and comment.
1. Revised Notice of Scoping for the Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park Expansion

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Bethel

Address of Possible Project Location: Trowbridge Drive, Bethel, CT

Project Description: On August 6, 2013 the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) published a Scoping Notice on the CEQ Environmental Monitor to determine CEPA obligations for the proposed Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park Expansion project in Bethel, CT.  Based on the comments received during the Scoping Period the Town Of Bethel decided to reduce the size of the proposed industrial park expansion. Since the overall scope of the project has changed DECD decided to publish a revised Scoping Notice to seek state agencies and public comments regarding the proposed project.

The Town of Bethel is seeking state financial assistance for the expansion of the existing Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park by extending an existing roadway (Trowbridge Drive) southerly in order to add approximately 10 acres of town-owned land which could result in the creation of up to 5 additional lots. The additional lots would be located on land in an area designated as a Priority Funding Area and a Balanced Priority Funding Area on the 2013-2018 State of Connecticut Conservation and Development (C&D) Locational Guide Map. The proposed activities include roadway and utility extension and other associated project costs.

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

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  November 8, 2013

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 October 18, 2013.

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

Name: Mark Hood
Agency: Department of Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Fax: 860-270-8157
E-Mail: mark.hood@ct.gov

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

Name: Mark Hood
Agency: Department of Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-270-8089
Fax: 860-270-8157
E-Mail: mark.hood@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.

The following Post-Scoping Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
1. Post-Scoping Notice for the Former Connecticut Transit Bus Facility

Municipality where project will be located: New Haven

CEPA Determination:  On August 20, 2013 the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) published a Notice of Scoping to 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 issues/concerns raised are explained in the Environmental Assessment Checklist. The agency's conclusion is documented in a Memo of Findings and Determination.

If you have questions about the project, you can contact the agency at:

Name:

 Mark Hood

Agency:

 Department of Economic and Community Development

Address:

 505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106

Phone:

 860-270-8089

Fax:

 860-270-8157

E-Mail:

 mark.hood@ct.gov

What happens next: The DECD expects the project to go forward. This is expected to be the final notice of the project to be published in the Environmental Monitor.

 
EIE Notices
 
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 EIE has been submitted for publication in this edition.
 
 
Connecticut General Statutes Section 4b-47 requires 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. Recommendation of the Commissioner of Energy & Environmental Protection Regarding a Proposed State Land Transfer in Newington (Step III)

Address of Property : 525 Russell Road, Newington

Commonly used name of property or other identifying information: former Cedarcrest Hospital

Number of acres to be transferred: 88.5 acres

Click to view map of property location

Previous editions of the Environmental Monitor have included notices pertaining to this proposed transfer: 

Click here to view the original notice of intent to transfer the property (Step I).

The Department of Energy & Environmental Protection recommends protection of identified natural resources located on a portion of the subject property.  Click here to read that recommendation and information concerning the environmental resources considered in this recommendation.

Comments from the public are welcome in this process.  Comments may include information about significant natural resources or recreation resources on the property, as well as recommendations for means to preserve such resources. Comments must be received by the close of business on:  November 22, 2013

Written comments* should be sent to:

Name :

 David Fox

Agency :

Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Office of Envrionmental Review

Address :

 79 Elm St.
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
Telephone: 860-424-4111

E-Mail :

 david.fox@ct.gov

*E-Mail submissions are preferred. 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT:

  • The Commissioner of Energy & Environmental Protection will respond to any comments received concerning this parcel in a Step IV Notice in a future edition of the Environmental Monitor.
  • If no comments are received concerning this parcel, the Department will consider that all public notice requirements of CGS section 4b-47 have been satisfied.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Please contact us at (860) 418-5910 or deep.accommodations@ct.gov if you: have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint.
 
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