Environmental Monitor - Berkshire - 2007 - Berkshire Environmental Action Team

Adams, North Adams, Cheshire, New Ashford, Williamstown and Lanesborough – Mount Greylock Historic Parkway Rehabilitation
Becket, Lee, Otis, Stockbridge, & West Stockbridge – Mass. Turnpike Authority
Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge – Housatonic Railroad
Stockbridge and others – Tennessee Gas Pipeline
Adams – Hall Brook Dam
Egremont – Route 41 Bridge replacement over Karner Brook
Florida – Reconstruction of River Road
Florida – TransCanada Hydro Northeast, Inc.
Great Barrington and Monterey – Reconstruction of Benedict Pond Dam
Lanesborough – Donny Brook Country Club 18-Hole Golf Course
Lee – Berkshire Gateway at Lee
Lee – Oldcastle Mineral
Lenox – Aspinwell Shops (formerly Lenox Gateway)
Mount Washington – YMCA Camp Hi Rock Driveway ENF
New Marlborough – Casillis Farm Fire Pond
Pittsfield – Pittsfield Plaza Renovation ENF
Pittsfield – Carrie Bak Park Playground
Pittsfield – General Electric Company – Site Remediation for Dalton Avenue
Pittsfield – General Electric Company, “Residential Remediation on Dalton Ave”
Pittsfield – Berkshire Biodiesel
Pittsfield – Colonial Theatre Annex
Brownfields Covenant not to Sue
Sheffield – Berkshire School Master Plan
2006 Environmental Monitor Archive
How to Submit Comments to MEPA

Statewide:

12/24/07 –
Notice of Public Comment Period, re: Greenhouse Gas Expendable Trust – Notice of Public Comment Period, re: Greenhouse Gas Expendable Trust (pdf)
12/10/07 – Massachusetts Highly Destructive Invasive Species Draft Response Plan Notice of Public Review and Comment Period for Massachusetts Highly Destructive Invasive Species Draft Response Plan. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and
Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) are releasing the draft “Massachusetts
Highly Destructive Invasive Species Draft Response Plan” for public review and
comment.
The document is available for review on the DCR forestry website.
12/10/07 –
Proposed amendment to the Waterways Regulations Notice of a Public Hearing, re: Proposed Amendments to the Waterways Regulations (pdf).
New sections to the Waterways Regulations, at 3 10 CMR 9.17, and to the Adjudicatory
Proceedings Regulations, at 1 .01(7)(f), are proposed to require that a 10-person appeal groups
document that at least 5 in the group reside in the same community as the project requirements.
– Changes to the Waterways Regulations at 9.12 and 9.32 address the water-dependency of
Renewable Energy projects; changes at 9.13, 9.14, 9.17 9.34 and 9.54 address participation by
the MA Coastal Zone Management Office; changes at 9.32, 9.07 and 9.10 address eligibility for
licensing existing structures within Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. There are also
revisions for clarification purposes proposed in the following sections: 9.10, 9.1 1, 9.13,9.16,
9.17, 9.18, 9.21, 9.33, 9.35 and updating agency names where they occur in the regulations. – In March 2007, Governor Deval L. Patrick announced new initiatives to improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of environmental regulation in Massachusetts without compromising
environmental protection. The proposed amendments are part of that commitment and are the
result of a wide-ranging review the Chapter 91 permitting process kicked off in the spring.
– Copies of the proposed regulations and background information will be available for inspection
during normal business hours at: the MassDEPIWaterways Program, One Winter Street, Boston, the four regional offices of MassDEP and MassDEP’s web site .
BEAT comment: These proposed changes reduce citizens rights to be involved in the process. People from many towns may use any given body of water. It is wrong to require 5 of the 10 citizens in any given 10 citizen group to be from the town that the water body is located in. Please submit comments asking that citizens’ rights not be taken away like this!
12/10/07 –
National Grid USA Service Co., Inc.
Submitted 12/10/07 to the MA Department of AgricultureNotice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan (pdf)
12/10/07 –
GEIR Update for Massachusetts Best Management Practices and Guidance for Freshwater Mosquito Control
EEA# 5027
submitted by the State Reclaimation and Mosquito Control Board of the Department of Agriculture.
Among other things, the Board is requesting to change from annual review to every 5 years. 29 page General Environmental Impact Report (pdf).
11/12/07 –
Policy for Developing Water Needs Forecasts for Public Water Suppliers
and Methodology for Implementation – RESPONSE TO COMMENTS AND REVISIONS (pdf)
The following documents were available for review on the Water Resources Commission website,
Response to public comments received on the draft Policy for Developing Water Needs
Forecasts for Public Water Suppliers and Methodology for Implementation
Revised Policy and Methodology document.
This policy updates and combines the WRC policy on developing water needs forecasts for public
water suppliers. dated February 2001, and the forecasting methodology approved by the WRC in
1991. The WRC technical staff at the Department of Conservation and Recreation work with
communities to develop forecasts of water supply needs which can be used in long-term water supply
planning and for submission to MassDEP under the Water Management Act. This draft document
provides the policy and methodology for developing those forecasts.
11/12/07 –
Draft 2007 Index Streamflows for Massachusetts released for public comment
– Massachusetts Water Resources Commission (WRC) released a draft of
the “2007 Index Streamflows for Massachusetts” for public review and
comment. The document will be available for public review on the Water
Resources Commission website at:http://www.mass.gov/envir/mwrc/streamflows.htm
11/12/07 –
Northeast Utilities – Notice of Yearly Operational Plan (pdf) submitted to the MA Department of Agriculture
11/12/07 –
Proposed listing of Right Whales as two species under the US Endangered Species Act FEDERAL CONSISTENCY REVIEW NOTICE (pdf)
The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Office reviewed the proposals for
consistency with its enforceable program policies. Project proponents have filed a statement and accompanying
information with the CZM Office certifying that their proposal is consistent with these policies. This information is
available for public inspection at the CZM Office.
10/09/2007 –
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy and ProtocolEEA has released the final version of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Policy & Protocol, which can be viewed here. The Policy will apply to ENFs and EENFs submitted after the October 31, 2007 submission deadline if the Project is subject to the Policy.
EEA has also issued a Response to Comments document for public comments that were received on the Draft GHG Policy and Protocol. This document can be viewed here: Draft GHG Policy and Protocol Response to Comments.
8/8/2007 – MassHighway issued a Notice of a Public Hearing, re: Proposed Approval of Access to State Highways Regulations
7/11/2007 –
Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy Available for Comment
– The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) announces a new policy on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions which requires that certain projects undergoing MEPA review quantify their greenhouse gas emissions and identify measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate these emissions. The Draft Policy is now available for public review and comment.
5/23/2007 – Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period for Policy for Developing Water Needs Forecasts for Public Water Suppliers and Methodology for Implementation Comments now due by June 6, 2007
4/25/2007 –
New Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy
– The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs announces a new policy on Greenhouse Gas Emissions which requires that certain projects undergoing MEPA review quantify their greenhouse gas emissions and identify measures to avoid, minimize or mitigate these emissions.
4/25/2007 – Notice of Availability for Public Review and Comment of Policy for Developing Water Needs Forecasts for Public Water Suppliers and Methodology for Implementation
4/11/2007 – Department of Environmental Protection –Notice of Public Comment Period, re: Northeast Regional Mercury Total Maximum Daily Load
3/21/2007 – Department of Agricultural Resources – Notice of Receipt of Yearly Operational Plan – CSX Transportation, Inc.
3/21/2007 – Department of Agricultural Resources – Notice of Receipt of Yearly Operational Plan – Boston and Maine Corporation
3/21/2007 – Division of Fisheries and Wildlife – Notice of Public Meeting – Fisheries and Wildlife BoardBEAT is confused by this posting, but there is a meeting of the Fisheries and Wildlife Board on 3/27/2007.
3/7/2007 – Department of Environmental Protection
– Notice of Availability of Draft Guide to Water Resource Management Planning (pdf)
1/23/2007 – Department of Conservation and Recreation – Notice of Public Meeting (pdf) – Northern and Southern Berkshires and Western Connecticut Valley District
Forest Resource Management Plans (pdf)
1/9/2007 – 2007 Meeting Schedule of the City(of Boston)/State Groundwater Working Group

Hall Brook Dam Removal and Proactive Environmental Restoration – Adams

EEA# 14152

submitted December 24, 2007

An Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) has been submitted to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office for this project. As outlined in the EENF, the project involves the removal of the Hall Brook Dam in Adams, MA. The first three pages of the EENF and a brief project description can be viewed here: http://www.mass.gov/envir/mepa/pdffiles/enfs/122407em/14152.pdf. A full copy of the EENF can be obtained from the project contact listed below.

The project requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) because it involves a structural alteration of a dam that will cause a decrease in impoundment capacity. The Proponent has submitted an Expanded ENF with a request for a waiver of the mandatory EIR. The project requires a Dam Safety Permit from the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Office of Dam Safety; a 401 Water Quality Certificate from the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP); a Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; review from the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC); and an Order of Conditions from the Adams Conservation Commission.

For copies call David Leone , GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.,(781) 278-3700 dmleone@gza.com

MEPA analyst Briony Angus (617) 626-1029

return to list of projects

Reconstruction of Benedict Pond Dam – Great Barrington and Monterey

EEA# 12663

Notice of Project Change (pdf)

submitted December 24, 2007

Comments were due January 14, 2008

The proponent is requesting a previously issued scope for this project be rescinded because they have change their plans to reduce impacts below EIR thresholds.

BEAT note: in the Notice of Project Change they check off the box on the first page that says an EIR was required, but then check each “no” box for was a draft, final, or single EIR filed. Can this be correct?

For copies call Stephen Lecco (413) 525-3822

MEPA analyst Briony Angus (617) 626-1029

return to list of projects

Aspinwell Shops (formerly Lenox Gateway) – Lenox

EEA# 13540

Notice of Project Change

Secretary’s Certificate (pdf) Issued 12-03-07 Project change is insignificant; does not require an Environmental Impact Report

BEAT complained to the Director of the MEPA office that the Notice of Project Change did not appear to have been posted in the Monitor to receive public comment before the Secretary’s Certificate was issued.