Conservation Commission
Meeting held at the Sharon Community Center
June 17, 2010
Peg Arguimbau Chairman, Keevin Geller, Elizabeth McGrath, and Meredith deCarbonnel were the members present. The Conservation Administrator, Greg Meister, was also present.
7:45 p.m., RDA Public Hearing filed by the Mass Highway Department, District 5, for the proposed
work on Route I-95 from the Norwood Town Line northerly to the Canton Town Line. The proposed work involves pavement milling, resurfacing, and associated work to rehabilitate this roadway:
Michael Clements and Alex Duggan from Mass DOT Highway appeared before the
Commission to represent the Applicant.
Michael Clements submitted a U.S.G.S. Locus Map entitled, “Sharon, Route I-95,” dated
5/27/10, and Mass Dot Highway Tree Trimming and Removal Guidelines, dated
March 29, 2010. Michael Clements and Alex Duggan reviewed the following scope of the
proposed project with the Commission:
- As mitigating measures within the wetland areas, the proposed tree removal will be flush cut at ground level with no grubbing or stumping. The proposed limits of tree trimming/clearing near the existing guardrails shall be 15' back from the edge of the roadway and 20' upward for branch trimming/removal. The proposed limits of tree trimming/clearing in the sections of the roadway with no guardrails will be 20' back from the roadway and 20' upward for branch trimming/removal. All debris will be removed from the proposed project site. The limit of clearing has been established within the toe of the slope area of the proposed project site. The proposed limit of work is along the toe of the slope area. The siltfence/haybales will be installed as directed by the Commission for erosion control. The depth of the proposed pavement milling on
Route I-95 is 1 ¾” with a 2” layer of asphalt. The existing catch basin frames and grates will be replaced with new hook lock catch basin frames and grates. The Applicant proposes to repair or replace the existing damaged guardrails for the proposed project.
The Commission agreed to issue a Negative Determination to the Applicant with the following Special Conditions:
- For the Applicant to contact the Conservation Administrator prior to the start of the proposed project to arrange a pre-construction meeting and to provide the contact information of the contractor for the project.
- The installation of haybales/siltfence shall be placed along the approved limit of work,
(The toe of the slope area.)
- For the Applicant to contact the Conservation Administrator prior to the start of the proposed project for inspection of erosion control measures.
- Following completion of the proposed project, the Applicant shall remove all erosion control measures and contact the Conservation Administrator for inspection.
Peg called for a motion to close the hearing per submitted plan, and to issue a Negative Determination to the Applicant with Special Conditions as discussed by the Commission.
Keevin Geller moved. Elizabeth McGrath seconded. Voted. 3-0-1.
8:00 p.m., A Notice of Intent Public Hearing filed by The Town of Sharon DPW for a proposed long
term pump test to determine the viability of the site to serve as a municipal drinking water supply at
63 Canton Street, DEP File # SE-280-0515:
Abutters/interested persons were present. (See attached list.)
Jeff Hershberger and Dan Herzlinger from ESS Group, Inc., appeared before the Commission to represent the Applicant and submitted a proposed plan entitled, “Notice of Intent,” dated 6/8/10.
Dan Herzlinger explained to the Commission that the proposed project is for water exploration activities on the NSTAR property at 63 Canton Street.
The proposed project site is comprised of a small forested upland, emerging wetland, and scrub shrub wetland areas.
Page 2 SCC 6/17/10 Meeting Minutes
A temporary disturbance from the proposed project will occur within the small areas of the 100’ Buffer Zone to a BVW on the site. The disturbance within the 100’ Buffer Zone to the BVW on the site is approximately 6 square feet for the proposed installation of the observation wells. The Geoprobe drilling rig will access the well sites within the BVW by the most direct route that requires the least amount of clearing.
Jeff Hershberger explained to the Commission that he has been working with the DPW and the Water Management Advisory Committee for approximately six years searching for a potential groundwater supply site. A decision was made to move forward with the NSTAR site last Fall. The Applicant has received approval from the DEP to proceed with the proposed pump testing program on the proposed project site.
Jeff Hershberger explained the scope of the proposed project as follows:
- Three, 2- inch diameter pumping wells are proposed to be installed at Groups 1, 2, and 3, within the 100’ Buffer Zone to a BVW on the project site. Currently, Groups 1, 2, and 3, consists of four, 2 ½ - inch diameter wells. (Three are pumping wells, one is an observation well.) The DEPand the Town of Sharon would like to stress the aquifer as much as possible during the pumping period to determine the aquifer’s sustainable yield. Since the wells have not been pumped in five years, the additional nine wells associated with those groups will be re-developed. All of that proposed work would occur within the 100’ Buffer Zone.
- Observation wells 0W-1, 9-05S, 0W-3, and 0W-5, are proposed to be installed within the
100’ Buffer Zone. (Three of these wells will be approximately 50-60 feet deep and one is
shallow.) Observation wells, 12-96S, 0W-2, 0W-4, are proposed to be installed within the
upland area of the proposed project site. (Two of these wells will be deep and one is
shallow.)
- Monitoring well WML-1 is proposed to be installed approximately 60’ deep and approximately 125’ away from the well field. Monitoring well WML-1S is proposed to be installed approximately 10-20 feet deep.
- Adjacent to the MBTA rail line, WML-3 is proposed to be installed as a deep well, and monitoring well WML-3S is proposed to be installed as a shallow well.
- Monitoring well WML-2S is proposed to be installed approximately 10-20 feet deep within the wetland resource area of the site. This well will be installed by using handheld equipment as opposed to the Geoprobe drilling rig.
- A 24 hour pump test will be performed on one of the well groups to establish the aquifer parameters. Aquifer testing will be performed for the following three reasons:
-To determine the characteristic of the aquifer.
-To determine the aquifer’s sustainable yield.
-To collect water quality samples during pump testing or determine if water treatment would be necessary.
- A five-day pump test will be performed as required by the DEP to establish stabilization and collect water quality samples throughout that time period.
- The discharge location from the pump testing is approximately 700’ from the proposed NSTAR project site. The proposed discharge point is adjacent to the box culvert beneath the rail line and will eventually flow into Massapoag Brook.
- The drilling for the proposed pump testing will be performed during the dry summer months when the water table is at its lowest water level and minimal surface water is present. The proposed pump testing will start in mid-September with 24-hour per day monitoring.
Abutter, Michael Lang, 60 Canton Street, expressed his concern as to the potential noise caused by the proposed pump house. He said that the neighborhood has been disturbed enough due to projects from the utility and gas companies.
Dan Herzlinger explained that a quiet, electrical, submersible pump will be used with a Whisper Quiet Diesel Generator. He expressed a willingness to install a sound barrier in the event of any noise disturbance.
Abutter, Lawrence Sandberg, 2 Saw Mill Pond Road, also expressed his concern as to the potential noise caused by the proposed pump house. He complained of the recent tree clearing work completed in the area by NSTAR, and is opposed to any more neighborhood disturbance. He also said that equipment and vehicles parking on the narrow and curved roadway during construction of the proposed project would be a safety concern for him.
Page 3 SCC 6/17/10
The residents in attendance from Richards Avenue expressed their concern as to the potential noise and traffic/parking issues regarding the proposed project. They also voiced their concern regarding a possible visibility issue concerning the location for the proposed pump house. They explained that they are also concerned with potential flooding occurring on their property from the proposed project.
Dan Herzlinger explained that the proposed pump house has not yet been designed for the project. He said that it might be possible to place the proposed pump house further away from the open area of the project site.
Keevin Geller inquired as to how long the existing wells have been installed on the proposed project site.
Dan Herzlinger explained that two of the wells were installed by a previous company in 1997-1998.
In 2005, the ESS Group installed the three well groups on the proposed project site and performed a
48-hour pump test that gave the Town some assurance that this area could be a viable water source.
The Commission agreed to close the hearing and to issue the Order of Conditions to the Applicant
with the following Special Conditions:
- For the Applicant to contact the Conservation Administrator prior to starting the proposed pump test for a pre-construction meeting.
- For the Applicant to contact the Conservation Administrator prior to the start of the proposed project for inspection of erosion control measures.
- All work vehicles and equipment shall be parked off the roadway layout and onto the proposed project site.
- The Commission shall receive any findings or reports concerning the results of the pump tests.
Peg called for a motion to close the hearing per submitted plan, and to issue an Order of Conditions to the Applicant with the Special Conditions discussed by the Commission.
Elizabeth McGrath moved. Meredith deCarbonnel seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 4-0-0.
8:15 p.m., An Abbreviated Notice of Intent Public Hearing filed by Igor Tsinman for the proposed covered porch, rear addition, sunroom, and deck, within the 100’ Buffer Zone at 6 Arboro Drive:
The Applicant was absent from the meeting. He previously contacted the office of the Commission to request a hearing continuance.
Peg called for a motion to open the hearing for Igor Tsinman and to continue the hearing until further notified by the Applicant.
Elizabeth McGrath moved. Meredith deCarbonnel seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 4-0-0.
8:25 p.m., Old/New Business:
Update - 130 Norwood Street:
The Conservation Administrator is meeting with the Applicant’s wetland consultant on June 21, 2010 to review the proposed wetland replication planting plan concerning the pending violation at
130 Norwood St.
Update - 140 Maskwonicut Street:
The Conservation Administrator explained to the Commission that, according to the Attorney for
Mr. Dangelo, he has agreed to remove the culvert within the disputed access path as part of the restoration project. The Conservation Administrator recommended to the Commission that the Applicant’s proposed restoration planting plan include sweet pepper bush, red maple and white pine trees, from the beginning of the shoulder of the roadway to the bank of the stream.
Update – Great Cedar Swamp Restoration:
The Conservation Administrator explained that the consultants for the Great Cedar Swamp are scheduled to meet with the Finance Commission on Monday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m., for an update on the restoration project. A representative from The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration has recently been assigned to help advance the restoration project.
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8:50 p.m., Approve Past Meeting Minutes:
Peg called for a motion to approve the June 3, 2010 Meeting Minutes as presented.
Meredith deCarbonnel moved. Elizabeth McGrath seconded. Voted. 3-0-1.
9:05 p.m., Signatures:
The Commission signed bills. Certificate of Compliance for DavMar, 4 Cattail Lane,
DEP File # SE-280-217. Order of Conditions for the DPW’s Project at 63 Canton Street,
DEP File # SE-280-0515. Negative Determination for Mass Highway’s Pavement Milling Project on
I-95 in Sharon. The Chairman of the Commission endorsed a letter from the Open Space and Recreation Plan Committee to the Selectmen concerning the status of the proposed Open Space and Recreation Master Plan. The Chairman also requested support for its final submission in a form stipulated by the Commonwealth of Mass. The Commission signed an updated Order of Conditions form regarding the Sharon Middle School Project, DEP File #SE-280-0512.
9:20 p.m., Adjournment:
Peg called for a motion to adjourn.
Keevin Geller moved. Elizabeth McGrath seconded. Voted. Unanimous. 4-0-0.
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