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
of the National Register-eligible Whittier Memorial Bridge. The Chief Executive Officers of the three
municipalities have signed the MOA as concurring parties. The MOA was fully executed on March
23, 2011.
310 CMR 9.33 (1)(j) Mineral Resources Act Not applicable to bridge replacement project.
310 CMR 9.33 (1)(k) Massachusetts Drinking Water Act - According to MassGIS, the study
area is within or adjacent to medium-yield aquifers. The northern terminus of the study area is
coincident with the southern edge of a medium-yield aquifer associated with the Salisbury Water
Supply Company‘s wells. The medium-yield aquifer associated with the Newburyport Water
Department well located west of I-95 encroaches into the I-95 ROW.
Bartlett Spring Pond serves as a surface water supply for Newburyport Water Department and is
located off Spring Lane about 400 feet west of the existing I-95 southbound travel lanes. MassDOT
has consulted with MassDEP on the status of the Outstanding Resource Water (ORW) associated
with Bartlett Spring Pond. MassDEP, in an email dated April 6, 2011, stated that Bartlett Spring Pond
is not currently a Class A ORW ―…since it is not so listed in 314 CMR 4.00, and it was not approved
by DEP after December 29, 2006 in accordance with 314 CMR 4.06(3).‖
Widening of the I-95 southbound roadway would occur more than 400-feet from Bartlett Springs
Pond. The widening would occur entirely within the existing highway median where there are no
wetlands or surface waters; and the existing western edge of I-95 southbound would not be altered.
As previously noted, all stormwater runoff from the existing and proposed roadway would be
captured within a closed stormwater drainage system and diverted away from Bartlett Springs Pond.
I-95 crosses the Zone II of groundwater wells for Newburyport near the southern terminus of the
project. I-95 also crosses the Zone II of Salisbury‘s groundwater wells near Exits 59 and 60.
Transportation-related spills could affect these public water supplies.
The approximately 1.5 acres of increased impervious surface within the Zone II of Newburyport wells
#1 and #2, as well as the 0.3 acres of increased impervious surface within the Zone II of Salisbury
wells #5 and #6, represents a small percentage of impervious area within the Zone IIs.
Increases in roadway surfaces would also add de-icing operations during cold weather seasons. Deicing
materials, primarily sodium chloride and calcium chloride, are water soluble and generally are
not removed from runoff through standard Best Management Practices (BMPs). The drainage
system located within Newburyport water supply zones would be a closed system that discharges to
the Merrimack River, which is brackish; therefore, no water quality impacts to the Newburyport water
supply as a result of the application of additional de-icing materials is anticipated, and no waterquality
impacts to the Merrimack River are anticipated.
The response to comment DEP-16 details a series of BMPs for winter maintenance to be
investigated by MassDOT and implemented in the Cains Brook watershed. The BMPs include the
following:
1. Provide annual snow and ice training to the MassDOT personnel working in this area. The
training will include a component that will describe the environmental setting and public water
supply. In addition, MassDOT will perform a tailgate training session to reinforce similar
1-49