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

Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Project FEIR
Chapter 1.0: Changes Since the Draft Environmental Impact Report and Resolution of Additional Issues
1.0 Changes Since the Draft Environmental Impact Report
and Resolution of Additional Issues
1.1 PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Name: Whittier Bridge/I-95 Improvement Project
EOEA File No: 14427
Project Location: Newburyport, Amesbury and Salisbury
Project Proponent: Massachusetts Department of Transportation – Highway Division (MassDOT)
This document serves as the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) under the Massachusetts
Environmental Policy Act (MEPA).
This FEIR responds to the Certificate of the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs on the
Environmental Assessment/Draft Environmental Impact Report (EA/DEIR), issued on December 30,
2011. The Secretary will publish notice of the availability of the FEIR in the Environmental Monitor
and a 30-day public comment period will ensue upon the date of publication (March 7, 2012).
Subsequently, the Secretary will issue a Certificate stating whether the FEIR ―adequately and
properly complies with MEPA‖. A Secretarial finding that the FEIR adequately and properly complies
with MEPA will conclude the MEPA review process for the project.
1.2 PERMITS AND APPROVALS REQUIRED
Since the filing of the EA/DEIR, MassDOT has initiated the environmental permitting process for the
project. Table 1-1 lists the permits and approvals and the current status.
Table 1-1:
List of Permits and Approvals
Permit/Approval
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Massachusetts General
Permit for Construction Stormwater Discharges under the Clean Water Act
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1
Section 9 Bridge Permit under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 from the
U.S. Coast Guard to construct bridges and demolish the existing Whittier
Bridge over the Merrimack River
U.S. Army Category 2 Massachusetts General Permit authorization under
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
NEPA Approval from Federal Highway Administration
Section 401 Water Quality Certification under the federal Clean Water Act
from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
Chapter 91 Waterways License under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter
91, the Public Waterways Act, from the MassDEP for construction of new
bridges over the Merrimack River
Federal Consistency Determination under the federal Coastal Zone
Management Act from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Orders of Conditions under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act from
the Newburyport, Amesbury, and Salisbury Conservation Commissions
Status
Will be applied for prior to start of
construction
Application filed: August 29, 2011
Anticipated Issuance: July 2012
Application filed: November 15, 2011
Anticipated Issuance: May 2012
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
issued January 20, 2012
Application filed: December 6, 2011
Anticipated Issuance: May 2012
Application filed: November 15, 2011
Anticipated Issuance: June 2012
Application Filed: November 16, 2011
Anticipated Issuance: July 2012
Applications Filed: December 1, 2011
Anticipated Issuance: March 2012
1-1