Lenox Conservation Commission
April 18, 2013
Minutes
Town Hall
Members present: Chair Neal Carpenter, NC; Vince Ammendola, VA; Joe Strauch, JS; Tim Flanagan, TF; Dick Ferren, DF; Rose Fitzgerald Casey, RFC ; David Lane, DL
Staff present: Peggy Ammendola, PA
Notice of Intent, Electric Power Research Institute, 115 East New Lenox Rd., Map 34 Parcel 1. Construction of utility pole test site and related work.
There was a site visit on April 17, 2013 which was attended by Mark Volk, NC, DL, VA, NC, and JS. TF went at a previous time.
Mark Volk of Foresight Land Services presented the Notice. He described the existing site and stated wetland vegetation was observed at the site visit which prompted him to do “hand holes” and determined that it was not hydric soil. At the suggestion of TF, Mr. Volk subsequently did four more test pits, first digging by hand to 22 inches and then augured to a depth of up to four feet and again found that there was no evidence of hydric soil. Seasonal water is thought to be the reason for the wetland vegetation.
Mr. Volk said that it is necessary to have a flat site for two test poles with guy wires, therefore the existing 25-35 percent slope will be cut down to 8 percent. Trees will be removed from the site and it will be re-vegetated into a meadow site. The existing culvert will be used, but the headwalls will be built up to improve the existing crossing and erosion controls will be put in place for limit of work. This test site will be used for 2-5 years.
TF said that he feels that the Commission should keep an eye on this project during and after construction and cited his concern is the 2 to 1 cut at the upper level as the soil is unstable. Mr. Volk responded that the soil changes as the slope goes up and will be more stable than sand.
While the consensus was to approve the project, the Commission acknowledged that before issuing the Order of Conditions, they would first have to have a response from Natural Heritage that there is “no take”. Assuming that Natural Heritage will agree to the project, NC also asked Mr. Volk to contact the Commission when the siltation devices are in place.
RFC made a motion to continue the hearing to May 9th at 7:00 pm. VA seconded the motion and the Commission voted to agree 7-0.
Mr. Volk submitted Delineation Field Data Forms at the meeting.
Reissuance of Certificate of Compliance for DEP File Number 198-183, Map 28 Parcel 18, which was originally issued March 2, 2006. There is no record of this being filed with the Registry of Deeds.
Approve Minutes: DF made a motion to approve the minutes of April 4, 2013 as amended and JS seconded the motion. The Commission voted to approve 6-0-1. DL abstained as he was not present at that meeting.
RFC made a motion to adjourn and DL seconded the motion. The Commission voted to agree and the meeting was adjourned at 8:11 pm.
Other business: On April 16, 2013, the Commission received the Environmental Notification (ENF) Form for a proposed solar photovoltaic array at the Lenox Sanitary Landfill on Willow Creek Rd.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Ammendola
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