MONSON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
MINUTES JUNE 15, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT Glenn Colburn, Davis Johnson, Dana Staples, Audra Staples
MEMBERS ABSENT: Leslie Duthie
7:16 Colin Duncan and Andrea Desilets from National Grid met informally with the Commission to discuss the Hamden County Reliability Project. Mr. Duncan stated this is the 69 KV line that runs from Palmer, Monson, Hampden and into East Longmeadow that it is proposed to upgrade to a 115 KV line. He stated this meeting was to update the Commission on the progress and also to discuss how the Commission would like to handle the permitting and replication.
Mr. Duncan stated the bulk of the work in Monson consists of updating the line, replacing wood poles with taller steel poles and in some areas where possible increase the span of the poles. The map identifies the preferred route as a blue line, but because the permitting process requires that they also identify an alternate route that is shown as an orange line. This is an upgrade of the line and not a refurbishment of the existing line so it will require wetland permits and review by Natural Heritage. The replacement poles would not be one for one because the existing poles are 30 to 60 feet in height and the proposed steel poles will be 60 to 80 feet in height. This will allow an opportunity to move some of the poles out of the wetlands because the higher the pole the greater the span.
Glenn Colburn questioned if these would be single poles.
Mr. Duncan stated yes.
Davis Johnson questioned if it was required to have metal poles for the upgraded line?
Colin Duncan stated it is the higher voltage that requires a steel pole, but they are weathered steel and will blend in similar to the existing wooden poles.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the width of National Grid’s right of way would be changed?
Ms. Desilets stated they could install the line with the right of way width they currently have but they have been working with property owners to get approximately 10 feet more in most instances. If they are not successful in securing the increased right of way for the entire line, National Grid will get what it can and install the line in the existing right of way on the other properties. National Grid is not creating a new right of way it is increasing the width of the existing right of way where it can.
Glenn Colburn questioned if the width of the right of way would have to be changed where the high voltage line was running next to another line?
Ms. Desilets stated the center line was the same but the right of way was not a cleared swath the tree removal was selective to best protect the line.
Dana Staples questioned the difference in number between the existing poles and the new steel poles?
Mr. Duncan stated there are 91 poles now and they would be replaced with 79 poles. At the start of the line on Fenton Road the poles would pretty much be in the same location but when the line crosses Chicopee Brook the locations change. The new pole placement will result in 4 poles being moved out of the wetlands. Those poles that are in the wetlands will be cut flush in the ground and not dug out; the poles in the upland will be removed completely. The steel poles have concrete foundations and swamp mats would be used to get the concrete trucks in and out safely.
Ms. Desilets stated the impact is temporary for the bulk of the work; however 345 square feet of wetland would be permanently impacted due to the installation of steel poles.
Mr. Duncan stated 100,000 square feet is temporarily impacted and that includes the swamp mats.
Audra Staples questioned how it was proposed to gain access for the work.
Ms. Desilets stated they would access from the right of way, unless arrangements were made with individual property owners. The work crew would move sequentially through the process. A temporary bridge using swamp mats would be built over Chicopee Brook and this has been discussed with the Army Corp of Engineers and DEP. Ms. Desilets stated the question for the Commission is would it allow the 345 square feet of permanent impact to be rolled into the mitigation area in Hampden?
Glenn Colburn questioned if the area in Hampden had any special significance or was it regular BVW?
Mr. Duncan stated the site they propose for mitigation is at the end of the new line in the area the new sub-station is to be built. It does have a small tributary wetland system that starts on the property and continues south toward East Longmeadow and is part of that larger wetland system. The area of mitigation was an old farm and the wetland was probably filled in many years ago but it will work well. It is not an area of interest for NHESP but it is a good location for a wetland that has a good chance of taking.
Ms. Desilets stated they are trying to avoid small pocket areas and roll it into one larger section that will function better. One of the problems in Monson is that most of the area is private property and that complicates matters, National Grid owns the property in Hampden.
Audra Staples stated while it makes sense to make one larger wetland area, the Conservation Commission owns several parcels of land in Monson maybe something could be done in the way of mitigation on one of those.
Davis Johnson stated he would agree with Ms. Staples and questioned if National Grid would consider that option.
Ms. Desilets stated she thought that would be something National Grid would consider. If it was private land that would complicate matters but land owned by the Conservation Commission is something different. She stated they are trying to put a plan together to go back to DEP and the Army Corps of Engineers, so this is something National Grid would like to have resolved in the next few months.
Glenn Colburn stated he thought this would be something that could be put on the Agenda for the next meeting for discussion.
Davis Johnson questioned if and how the higher voltage would affect abutters?
Mr. Duncan stated there have been engineering calculations done and many experts are of the opinion there is no significant affect on abutters.
Audra Staples questioned if the alternate route had to be used what would the mitigation be for that?
Ms. Desilets stated they had not looked in depth at that scenario. There is a requirement to show an alternate route but there has not been a great deal of study done because the focus has been on the preferred route. She noted that there is significant beaver activity in the Nieske Road area.
Glenn Colburn stated that is an ongoing problem and the Commission would really like to see a beaver deceiver installed there.
8:10 The Commission signed the order of conditions for the Monson Highway Department for culvert work on T Peck Road. The special conditions included erosion control.
The DEP issued Emergency Certificates for work on a collapsed culvert on Ely Road, and a general Emergency Certificate for the Town to do general emergency work related to the tornado damage. The DEP also issued an Emergency Certificate to William & Alice Pegoraro of 7 T Peck Road to take reasonable care to remove debris from their pond but the DEP denied a drawdown of the pond.
MAIL
- DEP issue a File # 228-336 for the NOI filed by the Monson Highway Department for roadwork on Margaret Street.
- Clean Harbors Environmental Services file an RFD for work at the Monson Developmental Center to clean up debris in an area subject to protection.
The Commission set site visits for Thursday June 23, 2011 at 5:00 P.M. starting at the Developmental Center and then to Margaret St.
Davis Johnson stated the Pulpit Rock Preservation Trust is within a few signatures of taking control of the dams at Pulpit Lake. It is far better to have a Trust than to leave the maintenance of the dam to just a couple of property owners. The Trust will probably file with the Commission to do a drawdown of the lake in order to fix the dam and the wheel that operates it and to check the gates to the dame and repair them if necessary. The property owners around the lake would also like to take the opportunity during the draw down to clean out the silt debris in front of their property.
Glenn Colburn stated because of the tornado the Commission did not have an opportunity to contact Mr. Parker a resident of Lakeshore Drive who apparently has been working with equipment in close proximity to the lake. The Commission will write a letter and ask Mr. Parker to attend a meeting to discuss the work and also to explain the regulations so that he understands when he has to file.
- Notification of herbicide spraying for gas pipe line right of way.
- Amendment to forest cutting plan for John Hanic, Wilbraham Road.
- Copy of a letter from High School Principal Dr. Linkenhoker to the Environthon team congratulating them on their success at the .
- Notice of Commonwealth of Mass hazard mitigation grant.
- Revised public notice from National Grid to the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Hampden County Reliability Project.
- Various Building Permits.
Glenn Colburn stated the large rocks that the Highway Department put in on the Porwoll property on Nieske Road seems to have solved the ATV problem for the moment but he did not walk into through the property. Maybe this is an area that National Grid can do some mitigation work.
8:45 Glenn Colburn moved to adjourn.
Audra Staples seconded the motion.
It was so voted unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda A. Hull
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