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

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
REGION 1
5 POST OFFICE SQUARE. SUITE 100
BOSTON, MA 02109-3912
December 22, 2011
OFFICE OF THE
REGIONAL ADMINtSTRATOR
Pamela A. Stephenson, Division Administrator
Federal Highway Administration
55 Broadway, lOth Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
Attn: Damaris Santiago
Re: Environmental AssessmentlDraft Environmental Impact Report (EAlDEIR) for the
Proposed Whittier BridgelI-95Improvement Project in Newburyport, Amesbury and
Salisbury,~assachusetts
Dear Ms. Stephenson:
The Environmental Protection Agency-New' England Region (EPA)has reviewed the
Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) EAlDEIR for the Proposed Whittier
BridgelI-95 Improvement Project in Newburyport,i\.mesbury and Salisbury,
Massachusetts. We submit the following comments on the EAJDEIR in accordance with
our responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section
309 ofthe Clean Air Act.
The EAJDEIR evaluates the effects ofthe no-actionaltemative, and a range of
alternatives to replace the existing Whittier B.ridge and widen portions of1-95. The
EA/DEIR concludes that the proposed project will not result in significant impacts to the
environment and includes a description ofmeasures that will be implemented to reduce
impacts. EPA has no objection to the project as proposed. We offer the following
recommendation for consideration as the EAIEIR is finalized and a preferred alternative
is advanced.
The EAJDEIR explains that six new piers will be required in the Merrimack River for the
bridge replacement project. The phased construction and demolition techniques
described in the EAlDEIR, including the use ofcofferdams around existing and proposed
bridge piers, are designed to prevent impacts to the river and to anow traffic to continue
to flow during construction. We support these construction controls and recommend that
FHWA and MassDOT condition the in-water cofferdam construction work to be
consistent with time ofyear restrictions. and other recommendations from the
Massachusetts Division ofMarine Fisheries and the National Marine Fisheries Service.
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