- Connecticut Readiness Center, Putnam
- NEW! I-95 Interchange 74 Improvements at Rt.161 and Bridge Replacement, East Lyme
- Windham Intermodal Transportation Center, Windham
Special Notices
These are notices of State actions with potential environmental importance that are required to be posted by special legislation or are posted at the request of State agencies.
The Following Special Notice has been submitted for publication in this edition.
1. Notice of Availability Long Island Sound Blue Plan
The Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“DEEP”) hereby gives notice that a draft of the Long Island Sound Blue Plan, together with the Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory and other supporting documents, are available for public review and comment.
The Blue Plan is a marine spatial planning process for Long Island Sound that was authorized by Section 25-157t of the Connecticut General Statutes (Connecticut Public Act 15-66). The intent of the Blue Plan is to plan and account for both the existing human uses of the Sound and the habitats and natural resources needed for marine life to thrive in the Sound. Doing so will help ensure that: (a) the existing human uses and the habitats and natural resources and features of the Sound are protected and (b) any new and existing uses of the Sound will be compatible with each other and with the Sound’s habitats and natural resources.
The Blue Plan will not create new regulations; rather it will provide greater clarity and guidance for how decisions will be made under specified existing regulatory programs. The Blue Plan's policies will provide the basis for existing permit programs identified by statute to achieve clearer and more certain protection of the economic, cultural, and ecological values of Long Island Sound, including existing traditional human uses and ecologically significant areas. As such, the Blue Plan will serve as a guide to show what the applicable state and local permit decision-making processes will consider and be based upon. This will provide new and better insight for stakeholders and applicants up-front.
The draft Blue Plan, together with the complete Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory and additional supporting and background information is available at http://www.ct.gov/deep/lisblueplan and in hard copy upon request to the address below.
INFORMATION REQUESTS/PUBLIC COMMENT
The success of the Blue Plan depends on the involvement of the general public and all stakeholders to make sure the Plan reflects the knowledge, perspectives, and needs of everyone whose lives are touched by Long Island Sound. Interested parties are invited to review and comment on the draft Blue Plan and any other Blue Plan-related topics. Please submit written comments to LIS Blue Plan, Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106-5127 or by email to DEEP.BluePlanLIS@ct.gov on or before June 21, 2019.
Questions may be directed to David Blatt at (860) 424-3610 or to DEEP.BluePlanLIS@ct.gov.
/s/Brian P. Thompson, Director
Land & Water Resources Division
Bureau of Water Protection & Land Reuse
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request an accommodation contact us at (860) 418-5910 or deep.accommodations@ct.gov
"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 the Environmental Assessment for the Connecticut Readiness Center in Putnam, CT
Connecticut Army National Guard/Connecticut Military Department
Municipalities where the Proposed Action might be located: Putnam, CT
Address of Proposed Action Location: 376 and 390 Pomfret Street (Route 44) Putnam, CT 06260
Project Description: In compliance with the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Connecticut Army National Guard (CTARNG) will prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic impacts of creating a new Readiness Center in the town of Putnam, CT to support the CTARNG 643rd Military Police. The Putnam Readiness Center (PRC) will consist of an assembly hall for Guardsmen to utilize, along with equipment storage areas and parking lots. These facilities will restore the training, administrative, and logistical requirements the CTARNG has lacked in northeast Connecticut for over a decade.
The PRC is planned to be constructed on land owned by the State of Connecticut and previously occupied by the John N. Dempsey Center. See Existing Location figure attached. The Proposed Action for the PRC includes an approximately 45,000 square foot Readiness Center, a parking lot for the CTARNG organization and two privately-owned vehicle parking lots. See attached Proposed Action figure. The Proposed Action is configured to allow for a 150-foot Antiterrorism Force Protection (ATFP) buffer surrounding the readiness center, per Department of Defense requirements.
Alternative designs for the PRC include: 1. A design similar to the Proposed Action that does not allow for a 150-foot ATFP buffer, 2. A design that allows for a 150-ATFP buffer but requires wetland impacts, 3. Construction of the readiness center in a different location, and 4. Not constructing a new readiness center.
Project Maps: Existing Location and Proposed Action figures are attached.
Input Request: The EA identifies, documents, and evaluates the potential environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic effects of the analyzed alternatives in accordance with 32 Code of Federal Regulations Part 651, Environmental Analysis of Army Actions, Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, and the ARNG National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 Handbook. The NEPA protocol for an EA requires a public input period of 30 days prior to the Final EA. Any public comments received by the CTARNG will be addressed and incorporated into the Final EA.
Written comments from the public are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: May 16, 2019.
Public Scoping Meeting: 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: April 30, 2019.
Written comments, questions and/or requests for a Public Scoping Meeting should be sent to:
Mr. Robert Dollak, Environmental Program Manager
Connecticut Army National Guard
360 Broad Street, Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 524-4945
2. Notice of Scoping for I-95 Interchange 74 Improvements at Route 161 and Replacement of Bridge No. 00250
Municipality where proposed project might be located: East Lyme
Project Description: The purpose of this project is to address vehicular safety on I-95 at Interchange 74 and address traffic operational concerns between Interchanges 74 and 75 in East Lyme. In addition, this project will address traffic operational concerns and improve safety for all roadway users (motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists) on Route 161 in the vicinity of the exit 74 interchange ramps. It is also proposed to replace the I-95 bridge (No. 00250) over Route 161 due to its poor condition and to accommodate the widening on Route 161.
Current deficiencies include substandard geometry on the I-95 freeway, substandard geometric features on Interchange 74 access ramps, poor conditions and features of Bridge No. 00250 (I-95 over Route 161) and a lack of auxiliary turn lanes/shoulders on Route 161.
The proposed improvements on I-95 include full reconstruction and widening to accommodate the revised ramp configurations, auxiliary lanes between exits 74 & 75 in each direction and the full replacement of the bridge over Route 161. As a result of the I-95 widening, the bridge over Pattagansett River will be extended and retaining walls will be constructed. At various locations within the project limits, the proposed improvements on I-95 will accommodate a future project to add a third lane.
The proposed southbound ramps will be realigned to terminate on a new frontage road to form a signalized “T” type intersection. This new frontage road will form a signalized “T” type intersection with a three-lane approach to Route 161 consisting of one left-turn lane and two right-turn lanes. Route 161 northbound at this new intersection will have a four-lane approach consisting of two exclusive left-turn lanes and two through lanes. The southbound Route 161 approach to this intersection will consist of two through lanes and exclusive turn lanes.
The terminus of the northbound I-95 exit 74 ramp will be relocated southerly to form a new signalized intersection with Route 161 and the Burger King Driveway. Vehicles on southbound Route 161 will be accessing I-95 northbound on a new entrance “loop” ramp approximately 500 feet south of its current location. The entrance ramp to I-95 northbound for vehicles on northbound Route 161 will be realigned slightly at its present location.
To address safety and traffic operations on Route 161, improvements include full reconstruction and widening to provide turn lanes, wider shoulders, and sidewalk connectivity within the project limits.
The right-of-way impacts associated with the proposed improvements include total and partial property acquisitions, permanent easements, and temporary easements during construction. The existing non-access lines will be revised to accommodate the new proposed ramps.
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: Friday June 7, 2019
There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this project at:
DATE: Thursday May 23, 2019
TIME: 6:30 P.M. Open Forum followed by a Formal Presentation at 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: East Lyme Middle School (Auditorium), 31 Society Road, Niantic, CT 06357
NOTES: The meeting facility is ADA accessible. Language assistance may be requested by contacting the Department’s Language Assistance Call Line at (860) 594-2243 at least five business days prior to the meeting. Persons with hearing and/or speech disabilities may dial 711 for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS). Language assistance is provided at no cost to the public and efforts will be made to respond to timely requests for assistance.
Plans will be available at the Town Hall, Department of Planning & Zoning, and on the Town's website by May 9, 2019.
Written comments should be sent to:
| Name: | Ms. Susan M. Libatique, P.E., Transportation Principal Engineer |
| Agency: | Connecticut Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 317546 |
| Address: | 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131-7546 |
| E-Mail: | Susan.Libatique@ct.gov |
If you have questions about the public meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact:
| Name: | Mr. Ahsan K. Saghir, Transportation Engineer |
| Agency: | Connecticut Department of Transportation, Bureau of Engineering & Construction |
| Address: | 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131 |
| Phone: | (860) 594-2076 |
| E-Mail: | Ahsan.Saghir@ct.gov |
Inquiries and requests to view and or copy documents, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, must be submitted to the sponsoring State Agency:
Name: Ms. Alice M. Sexton, Principal Attorney
Agency: Connecticut Department of Transportation, Office of Legal Services
Address: 2800 Berlin Turnpike, Newington, CT 06131
Phone: (860) 594-3045
E-Mail: Alice.Sexton@ct.gov
1. Post-Scoping Notice for Windham Intermodal Transportation Center
Municipality where project will be located: Windham
CEPA Determination: On 11/28/18 the Department of Economic Community Development (DECD) published a Notice of Scoping to solicit public comments for this project in the Environmental Monitor. During the scoping period, DECD received comments from OPM,DPH,DEEP, and SHPO; Please see all links within the Environmental Assessment Checklist and Memo of Findings. 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.
If you have questions about the project, you can contact the agency at:
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Name: |
Ryan Acosta |
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Agency: |
Department of Economic Community Development |
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Address: |
450 Columbus Boulevard South Tower (4th floor); Suite #5 Hartford CT, 06103 |
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Phone: |
860-500-2392 |
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E-Mail: |
ryan.acosta@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.
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).
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