Final Environmental Impact Report - Whittier Bridge/I-95 ...

Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Project FEIR
Chapter 2.0: Response to Comments on the Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report
limited to the established work limit. All areas temporarily disturbed will be restored according to
MassDOT specifications for permanent seeding and/or appropriate permanently stabilized ground
cover.
DEP-24: Further, for wetlands and 401 permitting, although the final CP/PP may be provided to conservation
commissions for review and approval prior to land disturbance, at least a conceptual level CP/PP can and should be
provided to the 3 commissions and MassDEP. The conceptual level CP/PP can be reviewed to ensure it contains
adequate controls to prevent unintended alteration to wetland resource areas and discloses all work projected to
occur in each buffer zone, including work yards/lay down areas, so that the work may be appropriately conditioned. In
addition, the conceptual level CP/PP will serve as a guide to the design-build contractor in preparing the final CP/PP.
Because the wetland impacts are being considered on a town-by-town basis, the CP/PP will need to be specific to
each town. If the final CP/PP is not submitted prior to the close of the wetland public hearings, the final CP/PP will
need to be conditioned to be submitted and administratively approved by the commissions prior to land disturbance.
The design-build contractor needs to be made aware that the commissions will need to be granted adequate time to
review the CP/PP after it is submitted, and commissions may require changes to the CP/PP as part of their
administrative approval.
Response: The demarcation of the work limits are clearly defined on the NOI plans and include
compost filter tubes or an orange construction fence, chain link fence and/or ―No Work or
Disturbance in Wetland‖ signage. The installation of these measures at the limit of work will eliminate
the possibility of the contractor operating equipment in the adjacent resource areas. The level of
information provided in the NOI was intended to provide the contractor with established work limits,
perimeter sediment control measures and specific details of erosion and sediment practices which
the contractor must use as the basis for the CP/PP.
The design/build contractor will develop a CP/PP which meets the requirements of the EPA
Construction General Permit and the Orders of Conditions. The newly reissued EPA Construction
General Permit (February 15, 2012) will require a 30-day waiting period from the time that EPA
acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Intent. As such, the CP/PP will be provided to each
Commission at least 60 (sixty) days prior to the start of land disturbance in order for any updates to
be made to the CP/PP in support of the NOI filing with the EPA.
DEP-24A: Standard 9 –Operation and Maintenance Plan (310 CMR 10.05(6)(k)(9) and 314 CMR 9.06(6)(a)(9): A
Long Term Operation and Maintenance (O/M) Plan specific to the stormwater control practices proposed in the 4.25
mile project area is required. A generic state-wide plan is not acceptable to meet regulatory requirements. The O/M
Plan must be provided to the 3 conservation commissions. The Long Term O/M Plan must meet 6 specific
requirements specified in MassDEP Stormwater Handbook in Volume 1, Chapter 1, including an on-going
maintenance log to be made available to MassDEP and conservation commissions and making provision inspections
by MassDEP and conservation commissions upon request.
Response: MassDOT has prepared a project-specific Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan and
submitted it to the conservation commissions as part of the wetlands permitting process. Appendix A
includes the O&M Plan. In general, long term O&M activities will be conducted consistent with the
MassDOT NPDES Stormwater MS4 Permit, and the measures outlined in MassDOT‘s SWMP. The
MassDOT District 4 office will be responsible for the maintenance of the roadway facilities and
associated stormwater management features, in accordance with MassDOT standards.
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