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Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
Update on Tel-Electric Dam Removal
November 09 2016 Lenox Library Lenox Massachusetts
Massachusetts SubCouncil Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees One Winter Street 6th Floor Boston Massachusetts 02108
Agenda
1 Review of the Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
2 Update on Tel-Electric Dam Removal
3 Additional Information
HOUSATONIC RIVER WATERSHED RESTORATION
PROGRAM
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
GEHousatonic River Natural Resource Damages (NRD) Settlement bull Consent Decree in 2000
bull $15 million in damages as compensation for resource damages
Y Approx $775 million targeted for projects in Massachusetts
Massachusetts SubCouncil of the Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees bull Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and
Environmental Affairs (EEA) represented by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
bull Department of the Interior (DOI) US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program Massachusetts SubCouncil Voting Members
Karen Pelto State Trustee Representative amp Lead Administrative Trustee Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection One Winter Street 6th Floor Boston Massachusetts 02108 email KarenPeltostatemaus phone (617) 292-5785
Molly Sperduto Trustee Representative for the DOI USFWS US Fish and Wildlife Service 70 Commercial Street Suite 300 Concord NH 03301 email Molly_sperdutofwsgov phone (603) 227-6415
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
The MA SubCouncil is responsible for disbursing funds from the Massachusetts portion of the NRD settlement
Funds are used for compensatory restoration projects that will restore rehabilitate replace or acquire the equivalent of natural resources andor their services that were injured or lost as a result of the release of hazardous materials including PCBs into the Massachusetts portion of the Housatonic River watershed
Two previous rounds of restoration projects (Rounds 1 and 2) have been funded as a part of this Restoration Program Currently addressing Round 3
UPDATE Tel-Electric Dam Removal
Overview Round 1 Project ndash ldquoWest Branch of the Housatonic River Revitalization Project ndash Greenway and Dam Removalrdquo
bull Applicant ndash City of Pittsfield
bull NRD Funding $750000 ndash Restore ecological conductivity of river habitat
ndash Remove potential hazard
ndash City funding Greenway work
bull Project Partner ndash MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of Mass Dept of Fish amp Game ndash DER Coordinates with MA SubCouncil
bull $1 Million additional funding from US Department of Interior (DOI) Hurricane sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program
Overview (cont)
Project Scope
bull Removal of the Mill Street Dam (aka Tel-Electric Dam) located on the West Branch of the Housatonic River
ndash Removing the primary spillway low flow outlet secondary outlet and bypass flume
ndash Removal of 3000 CY of sediment near dam
ndash Constructing a concrete retaining walls on West and East banks to protect building foundations and sewer line respectively
ndash Remove abandon railroad bridge upstream
ndash Add scour protection around foundations of two other railroad bridges upstream
ndash Install control structures 1200 feet upstream at West Street to protect buried utilities
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Agenda
1 Review of the Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
2 Update on Tel-Electric Dam Removal
3 Additional Information
HOUSATONIC RIVER WATERSHED RESTORATION
PROGRAM
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
GEHousatonic River Natural Resource Damages (NRD) Settlement bull Consent Decree in 2000
bull $15 million in damages as compensation for resource damages
Y Approx $775 million targeted for projects in Massachusetts
Massachusetts SubCouncil of the Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees bull Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and
Environmental Affairs (EEA) represented by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
bull Department of the Interior (DOI) US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program Massachusetts SubCouncil Voting Members
Karen Pelto State Trustee Representative amp Lead Administrative Trustee Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection One Winter Street 6th Floor Boston Massachusetts 02108 email KarenPeltostatemaus phone (617) 292-5785
Molly Sperduto Trustee Representative for the DOI USFWS US Fish and Wildlife Service 70 Commercial Street Suite 300 Concord NH 03301 email Molly_sperdutofwsgov phone (603) 227-6415
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
The MA SubCouncil is responsible for disbursing funds from the Massachusetts portion of the NRD settlement
Funds are used for compensatory restoration projects that will restore rehabilitate replace or acquire the equivalent of natural resources andor their services that were injured or lost as a result of the release of hazardous materials including PCBs into the Massachusetts portion of the Housatonic River watershed
Two previous rounds of restoration projects (Rounds 1 and 2) have been funded as a part of this Restoration Program Currently addressing Round 3
UPDATE Tel-Electric Dam Removal
Overview Round 1 Project ndash ldquoWest Branch of the Housatonic River Revitalization Project ndash Greenway and Dam Removalrdquo
bull Applicant ndash City of Pittsfield
bull NRD Funding $750000 ndash Restore ecological conductivity of river habitat
ndash Remove potential hazard
ndash City funding Greenway work
bull Project Partner ndash MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of Mass Dept of Fish amp Game ndash DER Coordinates with MA SubCouncil
bull $1 Million additional funding from US Department of Interior (DOI) Hurricane sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program
Overview (cont)
Project Scope
bull Removal of the Mill Street Dam (aka Tel-Electric Dam) located on the West Branch of the Housatonic River
ndash Removing the primary spillway low flow outlet secondary outlet and bypass flume
ndash Removal of 3000 CY of sediment near dam
ndash Constructing a concrete retaining walls on West and East banks to protect building foundations and sewer line respectively
ndash Remove abandon railroad bridge upstream
ndash Add scour protection around foundations of two other railroad bridges upstream
ndash Install control structures 1200 feet upstream at West Street to protect buried utilities
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
HOUSATONIC RIVER WATERSHED RESTORATION
PROGRAM
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
GEHousatonic River Natural Resource Damages (NRD) Settlement bull Consent Decree in 2000
bull $15 million in damages as compensation for resource damages
Y Approx $775 million targeted for projects in Massachusetts
Massachusetts SubCouncil of the Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees bull Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and
Environmental Affairs (EEA) represented by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
bull Department of the Interior (DOI) US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program Massachusetts SubCouncil Voting Members
Karen Pelto State Trustee Representative amp Lead Administrative Trustee Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection One Winter Street 6th Floor Boston Massachusetts 02108 email KarenPeltostatemaus phone (617) 292-5785
Molly Sperduto Trustee Representative for the DOI USFWS US Fish and Wildlife Service 70 Commercial Street Suite 300 Concord NH 03301 email Molly_sperdutofwsgov phone (603) 227-6415
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
The MA SubCouncil is responsible for disbursing funds from the Massachusetts portion of the NRD settlement
Funds are used for compensatory restoration projects that will restore rehabilitate replace or acquire the equivalent of natural resources andor their services that were injured or lost as a result of the release of hazardous materials including PCBs into the Massachusetts portion of the Housatonic River watershed
Two previous rounds of restoration projects (Rounds 1 and 2) have been funded as a part of this Restoration Program Currently addressing Round 3
UPDATE Tel-Electric Dam Removal
Overview Round 1 Project ndash ldquoWest Branch of the Housatonic River Revitalization Project ndash Greenway and Dam Removalrdquo
bull Applicant ndash City of Pittsfield
bull NRD Funding $750000 ndash Restore ecological conductivity of river habitat
ndash Remove potential hazard
ndash City funding Greenway work
bull Project Partner ndash MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of Mass Dept of Fish amp Game ndash DER Coordinates with MA SubCouncil
bull $1 Million additional funding from US Department of Interior (DOI) Hurricane sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program
Overview (cont)
Project Scope
bull Removal of the Mill Street Dam (aka Tel-Electric Dam) located on the West Branch of the Housatonic River
ndash Removing the primary spillway low flow outlet secondary outlet and bypass flume
ndash Removal of 3000 CY of sediment near dam
ndash Constructing a concrete retaining walls on West and East banks to protect building foundations and sewer line respectively
ndash Remove abandon railroad bridge upstream
ndash Add scour protection around foundations of two other railroad bridges upstream
ndash Install control structures 1200 feet upstream at West Street to protect buried utilities
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
GEHousatonic River Natural Resource Damages (NRD) Settlement bull Consent Decree in 2000
bull $15 million in damages as compensation for resource damages
Y Approx $775 million targeted for projects in Massachusetts
Massachusetts SubCouncil of the Housatonic River Natural Resource Trustees bull Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and
Environmental Affairs (EEA) represented by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)
bull Department of the Interior (DOI) US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program Massachusetts SubCouncil Voting Members
Karen Pelto State Trustee Representative amp Lead Administrative Trustee Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection One Winter Street 6th Floor Boston Massachusetts 02108 email KarenPeltostatemaus phone (617) 292-5785
Molly Sperduto Trustee Representative for the DOI USFWS US Fish and Wildlife Service 70 Commercial Street Suite 300 Concord NH 03301 email Molly_sperdutofwsgov phone (603) 227-6415
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
The MA SubCouncil is responsible for disbursing funds from the Massachusetts portion of the NRD settlement
Funds are used for compensatory restoration projects that will restore rehabilitate replace or acquire the equivalent of natural resources andor their services that were injured or lost as a result of the release of hazardous materials including PCBs into the Massachusetts portion of the Housatonic River watershed
Two previous rounds of restoration projects (Rounds 1 and 2) have been funded as a part of this Restoration Program Currently addressing Round 3
UPDATE Tel-Electric Dam Removal
Overview Round 1 Project ndash ldquoWest Branch of the Housatonic River Revitalization Project ndash Greenway and Dam Removalrdquo
bull Applicant ndash City of Pittsfield
bull NRD Funding $750000 ndash Restore ecological conductivity of river habitat
ndash Remove potential hazard
ndash City funding Greenway work
bull Project Partner ndash MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of Mass Dept of Fish amp Game ndash DER Coordinates with MA SubCouncil
bull $1 Million additional funding from US Department of Interior (DOI) Hurricane sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program
Overview (cont)
Project Scope
bull Removal of the Mill Street Dam (aka Tel-Electric Dam) located on the West Branch of the Housatonic River
ndash Removing the primary spillway low flow outlet secondary outlet and bypass flume
ndash Removal of 3000 CY of sediment near dam
ndash Constructing a concrete retaining walls on West and East banks to protect building foundations and sewer line respectively
ndash Remove abandon railroad bridge upstream
ndash Add scour protection around foundations of two other railroad bridges upstream
ndash Install control structures 1200 feet upstream at West Street to protect buried utilities
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program Massachusetts SubCouncil Voting Members
Karen Pelto State Trustee Representative amp Lead Administrative Trustee Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection One Winter Street 6th Floor Boston Massachusetts 02108 email KarenPeltostatemaus phone (617) 292-5785
Molly Sperduto Trustee Representative for the DOI USFWS US Fish and Wildlife Service 70 Commercial Street Suite 300 Concord NH 03301 email Molly_sperdutofwsgov phone (603) 227-6415
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
The MA SubCouncil is responsible for disbursing funds from the Massachusetts portion of the NRD settlement
Funds are used for compensatory restoration projects that will restore rehabilitate replace or acquire the equivalent of natural resources andor their services that were injured or lost as a result of the release of hazardous materials including PCBs into the Massachusetts portion of the Housatonic River watershed
Two previous rounds of restoration projects (Rounds 1 and 2) have been funded as a part of this Restoration Program Currently addressing Round 3
UPDATE Tel-Electric Dam Removal
Overview Round 1 Project ndash ldquoWest Branch of the Housatonic River Revitalization Project ndash Greenway and Dam Removalrdquo
bull Applicant ndash City of Pittsfield
bull NRD Funding $750000 ndash Restore ecological conductivity of river habitat
ndash Remove potential hazard
ndash City funding Greenway work
bull Project Partner ndash MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of Mass Dept of Fish amp Game ndash DER Coordinates with MA SubCouncil
bull $1 Million additional funding from US Department of Interior (DOI) Hurricane sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program
Overview (cont)
Project Scope
bull Removal of the Mill Street Dam (aka Tel-Electric Dam) located on the West Branch of the Housatonic River
ndash Removing the primary spillway low flow outlet secondary outlet and bypass flume
ndash Removal of 3000 CY of sediment near dam
ndash Constructing a concrete retaining walls on West and East banks to protect building foundations and sewer line respectively
ndash Remove abandon railroad bridge upstream
ndash Add scour protection around foundations of two other railroad bridges upstream
ndash Install control structures 1200 feet upstream at West Street to protect buried utilities
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program
The MA SubCouncil is responsible for disbursing funds from the Massachusetts portion of the NRD settlement
Funds are used for compensatory restoration projects that will restore rehabilitate replace or acquire the equivalent of natural resources andor their services that were injured or lost as a result of the release of hazardous materials including PCBs into the Massachusetts portion of the Housatonic River watershed
Two previous rounds of restoration projects (Rounds 1 and 2) have been funded as a part of this Restoration Program Currently addressing Round 3
UPDATE Tel-Electric Dam Removal
Overview Round 1 Project ndash ldquoWest Branch of the Housatonic River Revitalization Project ndash Greenway and Dam Removalrdquo
bull Applicant ndash City of Pittsfield
bull NRD Funding $750000 ndash Restore ecological conductivity of river habitat
ndash Remove potential hazard
ndash City funding Greenway work
bull Project Partner ndash MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of Mass Dept of Fish amp Game ndash DER Coordinates with MA SubCouncil
bull $1 Million additional funding from US Department of Interior (DOI) Hurricane sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program
Overview (cont)
Project Scope
bull Removal of the Mill Street Dam (aka Tel-Electric Dam) located on the West Branch of the Housatonic River
ndash Removing the primary spillway low flow outlet secondary outlet and bypass flume
ndash Removal of 3000 CY of sediment near dam
ndash Constructing a concrete retaining walls on West and East banks to protect building foundations and sewer line respectively
ndash Remove abandon railroad bridge upstream
ndash Add scour protection around foundations of two other railroad bridges upstream
ndash Install control structures 1200 feet upstream at West Street to protect buried utilities
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
UPDATE Tel-Electric Dam Removal
Overview Round 1 Project ndash ldquoWest Branch of the Housatonic River Revitalization Project ndash Greenway and Dam Removalrdquo
bull Applicant ndash City of Pittsfield
bull NRD Funding $750000 ndash Restore ecological conductivity of river habitat
ndash Remove potential hazard
ndash City funding Greenway work
bull Project Partner ndash MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of Mass Dept of Fish amp Game ndash DER Coordinates with MA SubCouncil
bull $1 Million additional funding from US Department of Interior (DOI) Hurricane sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program
Overview (cont)
Project Scope
bull Removal of the Mill Street Dam (aka Tel-Electric Dam) located on the West Branch of the Housatonic River
ndash Removing the primary spillway low flow outlet secondary outlet and bypass flume
ndash Removal of 3000 CY of sediment near dam
ndash Constructing a concrete retaining walls on West and East banks to protect building foundations and sewer line respectively
ndash Remove abandon railroad bridge upstream
ndash Add scour protection around foundations of two other railroad bridges upstream
ndash Install control structures 1200 feet upstream at West Street to protect buried utilities
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Overview Round 1 Project ndash ldquoWest Branch of the Housatonic River Revitalization Project ndash Greenway and Dam Removalrdquo
bull Applicant ndash City of Pittsfield
bull NRD Funding $750000 ndash Restore ecological conductivity of river habitat
ndash Remove potential hazard
ndash City funding Greenway work
bull Project Partner ndash MA Division of Ecological Restoration (DER) of Mass Dept of Fish amp Game ndash DER Coordinates with MA SubCouncil
bull $1 Million additional funding from US Department of Interior (DOI) Hurricane sandy Coastal Resiliency Competitive Grant Program
Overview (cont)
Project Scope
bull Removal of the Mill Street Dam (aka Tel-Electric Dam) located on the West Branch of the Housatonic River
ndash Removing the primary spillway low flow outlet secondary outlet and bypass flume
ndash Removal of 3000 CY of sediment near dam
ndash Constructing a concrete retaining walls on West and East banks to protect building foundations and sewer line respectively
ndash Remove abandon railroad bridge upstream
ndash Add scour protection around foundations of two other railroad bridges upstream
ndash Install control structures 1200 feet upstream at West Street to protect buried utilities
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Overview (cont)
Project Scope
bull Removal of the Mill Street Dam (aka Tel-Electric Dam) located on the West Branch of the Housatonic River
ndash Removing the primary spillway low flow outlet secondary outlet and bypass flume
ndash Removal of 3000 CY of sediment near dam
ndash Constructing a concrete retaining walls on West and East banks to protect building foundations and sewer line respectively
ndash Remove abandon railroad bridge upstream
ndash Add scour protection around foundations of two other railroad bridges upstream
ndash Install control structures 1200 feet upstream at West Street to protect buried utilities
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Update
bull December 2014 and June 2016 Preliminary Engineering Design for dam removal was completed by a consultant under contract to Division of Ecological Resource (MassDFG)
bull Focused on potential impacts of dam removal on local infrastructure in the river corridor
bull The preliminary cost estimate to complete the dam removal project was estimated at approximately $15 million
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Update (cont)
bull April 2016 DER filed Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF) under the MEPA process with on-site public hearing and site walk
bull June 2016 a second neighborhood public meeting was organized by Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) with a project overview provided by DER and the City of Pittsfield
bull July 2016 end MEPA comment period - numerous comments
ndash Support concern about sediment pollution use as a hydroelectric generating facility
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Update (cont)
bull July 2016 the MEPA Certification was issued by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
bull Requires the application (City of Pittsfield) to prepare a Single Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to address public comments received and update sediment sampling and analyses This work must be completed before the project advances into permitting
bull (Late) Summer 2017 DER and partners to complete the following prior to work filing the Single EIR
ndash coordinate with organizations that filed comments letters specific to sediment management discuss collection new data and review options for sediment management
bull The MEPA work is on hold for now however until new technical issues are resolved
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Update (cont)
NEED Geotechnical assessment of the active CSX railroad bridge
bull Summer 2016 new information (a 1912 plan set) provided by CSX suggests the possibility that the bridge abutments are set on wooden piles (DER and the City had been seeking this information for several years)
bull Need to better understand the impacts of dam removal on bridge stability and to collect subsurface information to allow for the design of protective measures
bull November 2016 work will be put out to bid by DER with a projected completion date of April 2017
bull DER and the City of Pittsfield have approximately $16 million available to fund the dam removal project
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
Additional Information Restoration Program Planning Documents
Resources specific to the Massachusetts Housatonic River Watershed Restoration Program include
bull Restoration Planning Strategy (RPS)
bull Restoration Project Selection Procedure (RPSP)
bull Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA)
bull Round 3 RPSEA
References are available at the Restoration Program Website
wwwma-housatonicrestorationorg
