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Environmental Monitor
December 8, 2023
The Environmental Monitor provides information on projects under review by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) office, recent MEPA decisions of the Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs, and public notices from environmental agencies.
Berkshire Index:
• Williamstown – Notice of Intent to Initiate an Ecological Restoration Project – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Notice of Intent by Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation seeking to implement an invasive exotic species mitigation plan at the Lehovec River Walk in Williamstown, Mass. The focus of the mitigation work is to reduce the invasive shrub layer and Japanese knotweed in floodplain forest through a combination of forestry mowing and herbicide application (only low-toxicity wetland approved herbicides will be used). Copies of the NOI may be viewed or acquired by contacting the applicant: Williamstown Rural Lands, at (413) 458-2494. See the Williamstown Conservation Commission website for the meeting schedule to confirm exact dates and agendas. – published 11/22/2023
• Adams – Notice of Public Hearing re: Vegetation Management Plan - (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – Department of Agricultural Resources will conduct a regional hearing to receive public comment on the proposed Vegetation Management Plan for the Town of Adams, as submitted by Eammon Coughlin, Community Development Director. Public Zoom hearing will be held December 15, 2023 at 9:00 AM – comments due 12/22/2023
CT River Valley Index:
• Montague – Notice of Application for a 401 Water Quality Certificate – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – 401 Water Quality Certification application for fill and dredge associated with the proposed bridge replacement of Bridge No. M-28-026 in the Town of Montague, MA, by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The existing bridge is structurally deficient. The proposed project will include a variety of repairs to the bridge superstructure and substructure – Comments due 12/29/2023
• Monson – Notice of Application for a 401 Water Quality Certificate – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – 401 Water Quality Certification application for the replacement of Bridge No. M-27-015 carrying Wales Road over Conant Brook in the Town of Monson by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The project includes bridge replacement and roadway approach work – Comments due 12/29/2023
• East Longmeadow – Arment Trucking Inc. Facility – ENF – comments due 12/12/2023
• Amherst, Hadley – Notice of Application and Issuance of a Draft Modified Water Reuse Permit - (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachments) – Requested Individual Reclaim Water Permit renewal for UMass Amherst to continue the use of Class A water for street sweeping and irrigation on the UMass Amherst Campus and associated property in addition to the continued Class A use for the cooling towers at the Commonwealth Honors College; Class A cooling water for the CHP Cooling Towers; Class C boiler makeup water for CHP steam and hot water distributed in closed piping system throughout the UMass Amherst campus. – comments due 12/22/2023
• Greenfield – Proposed ALDI Grocery Store – SEIR Certificate – Adequately and properly complies with MEPA – published 11/22/2023
• Chicopee, Holyoke, South Hadley – Notice of Public Hearing re: Vegetation Management Plan – (click on the link, then at the top, click on attachment) – Department of Agricultural Resources will conduct a regional hearing to receive public comment on the proposed Vegetation Management Plan for Holyoke Gas & Electric, as submitted by Fuss & O’Neill. Holyoke Gas and Electric (HG&E) proposes to utilize herbicides to treat their Rights-of-Way. Public hearing will be held on December 22 at 11:00 AM over Zoom – comments due 12/22/23
Statewide Index:
• Notice of Public Hearing re: Vegetation Management Plan – ( click on line, then click on attachments) – Several listed municipalities are advised that National Grid proposes to utilize herbicides to treat their Rights-of-Way. To provide all interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed VMP, a public ZOOM hearing will be held at 10:00 AM on January 22, 2024. – Comments due 1/22/24
• Notice of Submission of a Yearly Operational Plan – ( click on line, then click on attachments) – National Grid has submitted and holds a current VMP (see previous index listing), therefore, notice of receipt of a YOP and procedures for public review is hereby given as required by Section 11.06 (3). National Grid has submitted a YOP to MDAR for 2024 identifying several municipalities as locations where they intend to use herbicides to treat their electric Rights-of-Way in 2024. In 2024 National Grid will conduct a selective herbicide treatment program on their rights-of-way as part of an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) program on transmission and distribution lines. – Comments due 1/22/24
• Notice of Public Hearing re: Vegetation Management Plan – ( click on line, then click on attachments) – Several listed municipalities are advised that Eversource Energy, Western MA proposes to utilize herbicides to treat their Rights-of-Way. To provide all interested parties an opportunity to comment on the proposed VMP, a public ZOOM hearing will be held at 11:30 AM on December 22, 2023. – Comments due 12/22/23
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