Connecticut State Council on Environmental Quality

August 19, 2014

Environmental Monitor

August 19, 2014 

Special Notice
  1.    NEW! Development of a State Water Plan
  1.    Old Lyme Coastal Wastewater Management Plan, Old Lyme
  2.    Eureka Lake Water Storage Tank, Danbury
 
     No Post-Scoping Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
 
  1.    National Coast Guard Museum Pedestrian Overpass Project, New London
 
     No state land transfer notice has been submitted for publication in this edition. 
               
The next edition of the Environmental Monitor will be published on  September 2, 2014.
 
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Special Notice
1. Development of a State Water Plan
The Water Planning Council (WPC), established pursuant to Section 25-33o of the CGS has been charged to prepare, within available appropriations,  a state water plan for the management of the water resources of the state, in accordance with Public Act 14-163:
 
The public act specifies what shall be included and considered in the plan and requires that the plan be completed by July 1, 2017.   
 
The law further allows, within available appropriations, for the Office of Policy and Management, on behalf of the Water Planning Council, to enter into one or more memoranda of understanding with independent consultants for advice or assistance in developing and compiling the state water plan.  Such assistance may include, but need not be limited to, data collection, storage and organization of data as deemed necessary by the Water Planning Council.
 
The University of Connecticut has offered to provide services at no cost to the Water Planning Council, under a Memorandum of Understanding, to provide assistance to the WPC in support of its efforts to create a state water plan as outlined in the  DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING: http://tinyurl.com/m6r6rrn
 
The Water Planning Council is soliciting public comment, to be provided to the Council by September 5, 2014, on:
  1. the Draft Memorandum of Understanding with the University and any recommendations on the  process or conditions of the proposed agreement; and
  2. any recommended alternative approaches to develop the plan, with identification of anticipated costs and funding sources for such approaches
Comments should be e-mailed to: bruce.wittchen@ct.gov
 
or mailed  to:

Water Planning Council
C/o Bruce Wittchen
Office of Policy & Management
450 Capitol Ave, MS# 54ORG
Hartford, CT 06106
 
All comments must be received by September 5, 2014.
 
The Water Planning Council shall consider comments prior to any action on the MOU at the WPC meeting on September 16 @ 1:30 pm at the office of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority @ 10 Franklin Square, New Britain, CT 06051.
 
 
"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. Notice of Scoping for Old Lyme Coastal Wastewater Management Plan

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Old Lyme

Addresses of Possible Project Locations:  Shoreline communities located south of and along Route 156 between White Sand Beach Association and Old Lyme Shores Beach Association, and the Route 156 corridor to East Lyme

Project Description: The Town of Old Lyme, and the Old Lyme Shores, Old Colony Beach and Miami Beach Associations have conducted independent engineering studies showing that the prevalent conditions in the project area such as the age and location of existing onsite wastewater treatment systems, high density of development, lack of adequate space and overall challenging subsurface conditions, such as shallow groundwater, have rendered the onsite wastewater treatment systems economically and technically unfeasible for long term wastewater renovation. For this reason, the Town of Old Lyme is joining efforts with three chartered beach associations (Miami Beach, Old Colony Beach and Old Lyme Shores) to implement a holistic and long term solution that addresses identified wastewater management concerns within the boundaries of the described shoreline area.

The proposed solution would incorporate the installation of sanitary sewers within the following beach communities: White Sand Beach Association, Hawks Nest, Miami Beach Association, Sound View, Old Colony Beach Association and Old Lyme Shores Beach Association. It would also incorporate the installation of pump station(s) and transmission line to collect wastewater from the mentioned communities and transport it eastward along Route 156 to the town of East Lyme where it would be discharged into existing regional conveyance infrastructure for final treatment at the Piacenti Wastewater Treatment Facility in the City of New London. Once all connections into the proposed sanitary sewer system are completed, it is estimated that 1,350 existing dwelling units will be served by the proposed infrastructure generating approximately 300,000 gallons of wastewater on an average daily basis.

Project Maps:  Click here to view the areas to be sewered.  
                      Click here to view the sewer route in Old Lyme. 
                      Click here to view the existing conveyance system.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on August 22, 2014.

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 August 1, 2014.

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

Name: Carlos Esguerra
Agency: Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse
Address: 79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127 
Phone: 860-424-3756
Fax: 860-424-4067
E-Mail: carlos.esguerra@ct.gov

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

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.  Any person with a disability who may need a communication aid or service may contact the agency's ADA Coordinator at 860-424-3194 or at deep.hrmed@ct.gov.  Any person with limited proficiency in English, who may need information in another language, may contact the agency's Title VI Coordinator at 860-424-3035 or at deep.aaoffice@ct.gov.  ADA or Title VI discrimination complaints may be filed with DEEP’s EEO Manager at (860) 424-3035 or at deep.aaoffice@ct.gov.

2. Notice of Scoping for Eureka Lake Water Storage Tank

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Danbury

Address of Possible Project Location: 37 Long Ridge Road

Project Description:  The Town of Bethel proposes to construct a 750,000 gallon partially buried concrete water storage tank at the existing Eureka Lake Water Treatment Plant.   The proposed tank is 83 feet in diameter and will extend approximately 8.5 feet above the finished grade.  The tank will be surrounded by a 6 foot tall chain link fence.  Other appurtenances include two hydrants, connecting water mains and three below ground manholes.  The project is being considered to provide potable drinking water storage for daily use, emergencies and fire protection for the Town of Bethel. 

Project Maps:  Click here to view a map of the project area, a site plan and a site rendering of the proposed water storage tank.

Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on:  Thursday, September 4, 2014.

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 Friday, August 15, 2014. 

Additional information about the project can be viewed in person at: The Town of Bethel Town Hall Public Works Director/Town Engineer office located on 1 School Street in Bethel, CT.

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

Name: Mr. Eric McPhee
Agency: Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Section
Address: 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #51WAT
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Fax: 860-509-7359
E-Mail: DPH.SourceProtection@ct.gov

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

Name: Ms. Patricia Bisacky
Agency: Department of Public Health
Drinking Water Section
Address: 410 Capitol Avenue, MS #51WAT
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Phone: 860-509-7333
Fax: 860-509-7359
E-Mail: Patricia.Bisacky@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 Environmental Impact Evaluation  has been submitted for publication in this edition.
1. Notice of EIE for the National Coast Guard Museum Pedestrian Overpass Project

Municipality where project is proposed: New London

Address of Possible Project Location: Waterfront Park, New London, CT

Project Description: The State of Connecticut has committed to provide financial assistance for the construction of a pedestrian bridge overpass that will be integral to the success of the U.S. National Coast Guard Museum Project, access to the site, and overall improvement to New London’s regional intermodal transportation center. State funds may also be used for ancillary work associated with the project, including property purchases, feasibility studies, traffic redesigns and other necessary project components.

The Proposed Action is the construction of a pedestrian overpass bridge which would extend from the south side of the Water Street Garage on the northern side of Parade Plaza and then extend over Water Street to the Coast Guard Museum entrance and adjacent ferry terminal.  The purpose of the pedestrian overpass bridge is to provide direct access to the Coast Guard Museum, improve access to the Cross Sound Ferry terminal, provide direct access to the train platforms, and provide improved access to public parking.

EIE: Click here to view the EIE.

Comments on this EIE will be accepted until the close of business on: August 25, 2014

The public can view a copy of this EIE at:

New London City Clerk’s Office
181 State Street. First Floor
New London, CT 06320

There is a public hearing scheduled for this EIE on:

DATE: August 7, 2014

TIME: 6:00 PM

PLACE: New London Union Station, 27 Water Street, New London, CT 06320

Send your comments about this EIE to:

Name: Nelson Tereso
Agency: Department of Economic and Community Development
Address: 505 Hudson Street, Hartford, CT 06106
E-Mail: Nelson.G.Tereso@ct.gov

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

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

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

 
 
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