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
Response: MassDOT has committed to construction procedures which will limit the installation or
removal of temporary cofferdams to a single location at any one time. The cofferdam restriction was
included in a letter from NMFS, dated November 29, 2011, which included the following Essential
Fish Habitat conservation recommendations:
1. All in-water work should take place within cofferdams as shown on the project plans. The
installation of the cofferdams should only be conducted one at a time, to minimize noise
and/or turbidity impacts.
2. From April 1 through June 30 of any year, at least one of the channels should remain
unobstructed at all times to minimize impacts to Atlantic salmon migration.
3. From April 1 through June 30 of any year, an observer should be present on-site at the time
of the installation of the cofferdams. If Atlantic salmon or other anadromous species are
observed in the work area, the in-water work should be delayed until they have passed
through. Prior to cofferdam installation, MassDOT should submit an observer plan to us for
approval.
MassDOT has committed to compliance with these conditions as outlined by NMFS.
EEA-21: The FEIR should confirm that NHESP's conditional no-take determination is still valid subsequent to
submission of any additional information or consultation.
Response: MassDOT has confirmed with NHESP that the previously issued no-take determination
is still valid for the project.
EEA-22: The FEIR should clarify the impacts, beneficial and adverse, to wildlife habitats under NHESP and
MassDEP jurisdiction and discuss whether mitigation is required.
Response: It was mistakenly stated in the EA/DEIR that existing culverts under I-95 would be
enlarged as a result of construction activities. It has been determined that no existing culverts would
be enlarged for the project; highway widening activities north of the Route 110 interchange will be
restricted to the median and will not require modification of existing culverts. One culvert, located
between the Merrimack River and Route 110 in Amesbury will be lengthened to accommodate the
relocation of I-95 northbound.
There are no impacts to wildlife habitat by the project, so no mitigation is required. Wildlife habitat
enhancement includes widening the existing wildlife passage under the Whittier Bridge by relocating
bridge abutments farther back from the Merrimack River shoreline, providing an enlarged corridor
within the Riverfront Area along the river banks, and consequently promoting wildlife connectivity
between areas east and west of I-95, an important wildlife corridor.
EEA-23: The FEIR should confirm the project's compliance with 310 CMR 10.00 and 314 CMR 9.00 as it relates to
protection of Bartlett Spring Pond. Specifically, as recommended by MassDEP, the FEIR should demonstrate that the
proposed pervious 12-foot-wide road proposed for construction in the 200-foot Riverfront Area to the Merrimack River
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