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