Final Environmental Impact Report - Whittier Bridge/I-95 ...
Final Environmental Impact Report - Whittier Bridge/I-95 ... Final Environmental Impact Report - Whittier Bridge/I-95 ...
EEA#l4427 DEIR Certificate December 30, 2011 flood plain areas. The above impacted areas were considered unavoidable. The DEIR indicates that the impacts will be minimized, and that the project will be accomplished in a manner that is consistent with the Performance Standards ofthe Wetlands Regulations (310 CMR 10.00). It identified the location of nearby municipal water wells. All resource area boundaries, applicable buffer zones, and 100-year flood elevations were shown on a plan and the local conservation commissions have approved resource area delineations for the project. Two BVWs would be directly impacted by the proposed highway widening including Wetlands I and H in Amesbury (permanent alteration of 3,560 sf). MassDOT is proposing the replication of approximately 4,950 sfby expanding Wetland Hand 1,500 sfby expanding Wetland 0 in Amesbury (mitigation ratio of 1.8: 1). For required wetlands replication, conceptual plans for compensatory wetlands mitigation at Wetlands H (Amesbury) and 0 (Salisbury) were provided in the DEIR. LUOlFish Run in Newburyport and Amesbury will be impacted by the construction of six new bridge piers and the installation of cofferdams for pier construction and demolition. MassDOT proposes to remove the four existing piers and will recover 11,500 sf of new river bottom resulting in a total net permanent loss of 5,600 sf of LUOlFish Run. Riverfront Area will be impacted on both sides of the Merrimack River in Newburyport and Amesbury as a result of fill associated with the proposed bridge abutments for the new bridges. MassDOT proposes mitigation through onsite restoration of existing degraded areas including the demolishing of the existing bridge abutment, building the new abutment 50-feet further inland, removing existing riprap, reclaiming and restoring median, and restoring the proposed slope through bioengineering. Waterways and Tidelands According to the DEIR, the construction of the Preferred Alternative will not result in permanent adverse impacts to existing navigation in the Merrimack River. The existing horizontal and vertical clearances for both the federal navigation channel (under the main span of the existing and proposed new bridges) will be maintained. For the locally-designated secondary channel (the "Steamboat" channel), the Preferred Alternative would maintain the existing vertical clearance and widen the existing horizontal clearance under the new bridges. Permanent navigational lighting will be installed on the new bridges and navigational aids will be installed in the Merrimack River to mark both navigation channels. Temporary construction impacts to navigation will be minimized through extensive coordination with local mariners, and staging and anchoring of construction equipment in areas of the river located outside of the navigational channels. Any closure of a navigation channel is anticipated to be of short duration and would be of only one channel, ensuring unimpeded navigation for the majority of vessels. The DEIR indicates that no dredging will be performed as part of this project. Stormwater Management 10
EEA#14427 DEIR Certificate December 30,2011 The DEIR includes a discussion of the proposed stormwater management system along the project corridor for the Preferred Alternative. The drainage system is designed to meet current standards for much of the 1-95 alignment, and will improve peak rate attenuation and water quality over existing conditions. MassDOT has coordinated its proposed stormwater approach with MassDEP at several points during project development and will continue to work with MassDEP to develop a stormwater management system that fully complies with the Massachusetts Stormwater Standards. Recent meetings have highlighted project-specific policy considerations that MassDOT will address during the environmental permitting process. The DEIR addressed the performance standards of MassDEP's Stormwater Management Policy. It demonstrated that the design of the drainage system was consistent with this policy. The DEIR discussed the consistency of the project with the provisions of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for stormwater discharges from construction sites. The DEIR includes a draft Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for compliance with the project's NPDES requirements. Rare Species The DEIR indicates that MassDOT has coordinated with NHESP, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) regarding potential project impacts to the sturgeon (Shortnose and Atlantic) population in the Merrimack River and the bald eagle nesting sites along the Merrimack River. MassDOT submitted an NOI for this project to NHESP for review of compliance with the WPA and MESA Regulations. According to the DEIR, the Preferred Alternative will require only the clearing of trees to the east of the existing bridge. The existing forested buffer between the highway and the existing eagle roosting areas west of the bridge will not be impacted. Nesting pairs of bald eagles are located both to the east and west of the 1-95 ROW. Eagles are expected to acclimate to changes in noise conditions that will result from the new bridge design. NHESP may require monitoring of eagles during construction to gauge their response to noise. MassDOT is coordinating with NHESP on potential construction monitoring activities or mitigation that may be required. In a letter dated December 20, 2011, NHESP indicates that the proposed project will not cause adverse effects to the habitat of state-listed rare wildlife. In addition, NHESP does not anticipate that a Conservation and Management Permit will be required for the project and issued a conditional no "take" determination. If NMFS indicates that it will not require additional conditions for Shortnose Sturgeon, or elects not to comment, than the project will not constitute a "take" of this species. However, if NMFS requires conditions for the Shortnose Sturgeon, then all required conditions must be adhered to in order to avoid a "take" of this species. The DEIR indicates that subsequent to consultations between MassDOT and NMFS, NMFS concluded that no further consultation or conference is required for the Shortnose or Atlantic Sturgeon under the federal Endangered Species Act. Fisheries 11
- Page 126 and 127: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 128 and 129: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 130 and 131: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 132 and 133: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 134 and 135: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 136 and 137: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 138 and 139: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 140 and 141: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 142 and 143: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 144 and 145: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 146 and 147: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 148 and 149: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 150 and 151: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 152 and 153: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 154 and 155: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 156 and 157: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 158 and 159: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 160 and 161: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 162 and 163: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 164 and 165: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Pr
- Page 167 and 168: Deval L. Patrick GOVERNOR rJJie Com
- Page 169 and 170: EEA#14427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 171 and 172: EEA#14427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 173 and 174: EEA#I4427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 175: EEA#I4427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 179 and 180: EEA#I4427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 181 and 182: EEA#I4427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 183 and 184: EEA#I4427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 185 and 186: EEA#14427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 187 and 188: EEA#I4427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 189: EEA#I4427 DEIR Certificate December
- Page 192 and 193: Thank you for the opportunity to co
- Page 194 and 195: Thank you for the opportunity to co
- Page 196 and 197: ESSEX NATIONAL HERITAGE COMMISSION
- Page 198 and 199: In the period leading up to the sub
- Page 200 and 201: construction is not adequate to ens
- Page 202 and 203: to limit turbidity impact from dewa
- Page 204 and 205: For infiltration basin and trench s
- Page 206 and 207: not acceptable to meet regulatory r
- Page 208 and 209: ide lot that is also being expanded
- Page 210 and 211: MassWi/d/ile December 20, 2011 Comm
- Page 212 and 213: Patel, Purvi {_E_EA .... } _ From:
- Page 214 and 215: process. Ifthe project avoids simul
- Page 216 and 217: THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS E
- Page 218: imack Valley ning Commission plan *
EEA#14427 DEIR Certificate December 30,2011<br />
The DEIR includes a discussion of the proposed stormwater management system along<br />
the project corridor for the Preferred Alternative. The drainage system is designed to meet<br />
current standards for much of the 1-<strong>95</strong> alignment, and will improve peak rate attenuation and<br />
water quality over existing conditions. MassDOT has coordinated its proposed stormwater<br />
approach with MassDEP at several points during project development and will continue to work<br />
with MassDEP to develop a stormwater management system that fully complies with the<br />
Massachusetts Stormwater Standards. Recent meetings have highlighted project-specific policy<br />
considerations that MassDOT will address during the environmental permitting process.<br />
The DEIR addressed the performance standards of MassDEP's Stormwater Management<br />
Policy. It demonstrated that the design of the drainage system was consistent with this policy.<br />
The DEIR discussed the consistency of the project with the provisions of the National Pollution<br />
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit from the U.S. <strong>Environmental</strong> Protection<br />
Agency for stormwater discharges from construction sites. The DEIR includes a draft<br />
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for compliance with the project's NPDES<br />
requirements.<br />
Rare Species<br />
The DEIR indicates that MassDOT has coordinated with NHESP, the Massachusetts<br />
Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)<br />
regarding potential project impacts to the sturgeon (Shortnose and Atlantic) population in the<br />
Merrimack River and the bald eagle nesting sites along the Merrimack River. MassDOT<br />
submitted an NOI for this project to NHESP for review of compliance with the WPA and MESA<br />
Regulations. According to the DEIR, the Preferred Alternative will require only the clearing of<br />
trees to the east of the existing bridge. The existing forested buffer between the highway and the<br />
existing eagle roosting areas west of the bridge will not be impacted. Nesting pairs of bald eagles<br />
are located both to the east and west of the 1-<strong>95</strong> ROW. Eagles are expected to acclimate to<br />
changes in noise conditions that will result from the new bridge design. NHESP may require<br />
monitoring of eagles during construction to gauge their response to noise. MassDOT is<br />
coordinating with NHESP on potential construction monitoring activities or mitigation that may<br />
be required.<br />
In a letter dated December 20, 2011, NHESP indicates that the proposed project will not<br />
cause adverse effects to the habitat of state-listed rare wildlife. In addition, NHESP does not<br />
anticipate that a Conservation and Management Permit will be required for the project and issued<br />
a conditional no "take" determination. If NMFS indicates that it will not require additional<br />
conditions for Shortnose Sturgeon, or elects not to comment, than the project will not constitute<br />
a "take" of this species. However, if NMFS requires conditions for the Shortnose Sturgeon, then<br />
all required conditions must be adhered to in order to avoid a "take" of this species. The DEIR<br />
indicates that subsequent to consultations between MassDOT and NMFS, NMFS concluded that<br />
no further consultation or conference is required for the Shortnose or Atlantic Sturgeon under the<br />
federal Endangered Species Act.<br />
Fisheries<br />
11