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____________________________________________________________________
Ian T. Cole
Professional Registered Soil Scientist / Professional Wetland Scientist
PO BOX 619
Middletown, CT 06457
Itcole@gmail.com
860-514-5642
November 10, 2021
Ms. Aisha Khan
Company Operations & Acquisitions
Shahani Inc.
53 E Industrial Road, Unit C1
Branford CT 06405
RE: Wetland Delineation and Impact Assessment, Shahani Dist., LLC, 612-Norwich
Salem Turnpike (aka Intersection of Rte. 82 & Rte. 163), Oakdale (Montville),
Connecticut.
Dear Ms. Khan:
At Shahani Inc.’s request, I completed a delineation of the jurisdictional wetlands and
watercourses on the above referenced parcel. Additionally, I have reviewed the subject
site plans and I offer the following comments relative to assessing impacts to the inland
wetlands and watercourses due to the proposed regulated activities.
Delineation Methodology
A wetland survey was completed in accordance with the standards of the Natural
Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) National Cooperative Soil Survey and the
definitions of inland wetlands and watercourses as found in the Connecticut General
Statutes, Chapter 440, Sections 22a-36 through 22a-45 as amended. Wetlands, as defined
by the Statute are those soil types designated as poorly drained, very poorly drained,
floodplain or alluvial in accordance with the NRCS National Cooperative Soil Survey.
Such areas may also include disturbed areas that have been filled, graded, or excavated
and which possess an aquic (saturated) soil moisture regime.
Watercourses means rivers, streams, brooks, waterways, lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps,
bogs, and all other bodies of water, natural or artificial, vernal, or intermittent, public, or
private, which are contained within, flow through or border upon the Town of Montville
or any portion thereof not regulated pursuant to sections 22a-28 through 22a-35,
inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes. Intermittent watercourses are defined
permanent channel and bank and the occurrence of two or more of the following
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characteristics: (a) evidence of scour or deposits of recent alluvium or detritus, (b) the
presence of standing or flowing water for duration longer than a particular storm incident,
and (c) the presence of hydrophytic vegetation.
Wetland Findings
The on-site soil survey and wetland delineation was completed on October 28, 2021. The
wetland delineation was completed under blue sky conditions. Those areas meeting the
wetland criteria noted above were marked in the field with sequentially numbered pink
and blue flagging. The original delineation completed in 2020 by Environmental
Planning Services is substantially correct and accurately represents the limits of the
jurisdictional wetlands on the subject property. I recovered the original flagging which
was still readily identifiable and I re-tied new pink and blue survey flagging to easily
identify the wetland boundary in the field.
The on-site wetlands are characterized as a well-defined forested wetland corridor
associated with hillside seepage wetland that drains southerly, conveying seasonal flows
towards Whittle Brook. Along the flagged boundary the wetland exhibits wooded swamp
vegetation with red maple (Acer rubrum) dominating the forest overstory, and a
moderately dense shrub stratum of various species including but not limited to spicebush
(Lindera benzoin), winterberry (Ilex verticillata), with patches of multiflora rose (Rosa
multiflora) and Japanese Barberry. Pockets of sphagnum moss ground cover can be
observed in the lowest-lying depressions within the wetland boundary.
Photo 1: Forested Wetland
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Soil Survey
The soils identified on the site are a refinement of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) Websoil survey.
The wetlands soils are classified as Walpole poorly drained sandy loams. A typical soil
profile along the wetland boundary consists of approximately 2”-0” of intermediately
decomposed organic material (Oi), followed by 0”-6” of a thick dark topsoil horizon (A),
underlain by 6”-16” of a wet weakly developed grayish subsoil horizon (Bg) with
common redoximorphic features (Common medium distinct strong brown mottles,
masses) ranging from fine sandy loam to very fine sandy loam. This subsoil is underlain
by a saturated sandy loam to fine sandy loam gray substratum (2Cg).
The naturally occurring upland soil in the wooded portion of the property are mapped and
classified as Sudbury sandy loams. Sudbury series consists of very deep, moderately well
and somewhat poorly drained soils on outwash plains. They are nearly level through
strongly sloping soils in slight depressions and on terraces and foot slopes in areas of
outwash or glaciofluvial deposits. The northern limits of the property occur at the
interface of where outwash meets the glacial till landscape. In the northern portions of
the property are inclusions of Charlton-Chatfield sandy loams. These soils are typically
associated with shallow depth to bedrock.
The upland soils within the bulk of the proposed activities are classified as Udorthents /
Urban land complex which contains miscellaneous soil types that are present on the
landscape in a complex pattern that is not practical or necessary to sperate. Urban land is
used to denote moderately-well to well-drained an earthen material which has been so
disturbed by cutting, filling, or grading, that the original soil profile can no longer be
decerned and are co-associated with buildings, roads, parking lots and landscaping of
highly developed areas.
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Proposed Activities
The applicant is seeking approval from the Town of Montville to improve the existing
gas station with a new addition to the convenience store, improvements to existing
infrastructure including pumps, canopy, underground storage tanks and associated re-
paving. Site drainage will be directed to a new 1500-gallon oil and water /grit separator,
hydrodynamic separator unit and a new compliant subsurface sewage disposal system
will service the renovated store.
The proposed development will not result in any direct permanent wetland impact.
Due to the needs of the proposed development and the location and proximity of the
wetland resources, part of the activities is proposed within Town regulated Upland
Review Area (URA). Except for some minimal clearing, and surficial grading to support
the new septic, all proposed activities are more than 50’ from the wetland boundary. For
all practical purposes apart from the proposed septic area the proposed improvements are
within the existing developed envelope of the site.
Photo 2: Area of proposed on-site subsurface sewage disposal system
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Photo 3: Example of existing conditions
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Impact Assessment
The planned improvements will largely occur within the limits of pre-disturbed man-
made manufactured lands. The proposal does not include any filling, discharges,
excavation, or removal of vegetation within the wetlands.
The uneven topography along the wetland boundary and excavated cuts and fills in
combination with the vegetation of secondary growth is evidence of past clearing and
earth work had occurred in preparation for the original development. Currently there is no
existing stormwater management system on the property and untreated runoff from paved
areas of the adjacent developments direct runoff discharge to the southeast corner of the
lot paralleling the southbound lane of Route 163, eventually making it to Whittle Brook.
The site improvements will provide an engineered stormwater management system that
will attenuate and treat stormwater including an oil and water separator / hydrodynamic
separator unit.
Short-term impacts during construction will be reduced through measures to control
sedimentation and erosion. These measures will minimize the chance that siltation and
sedimentation will encroach beyond the limits of disturbance or into the regulated
wetlands. The site plans provide a narrative of the erosion and sediment control plan,
which follows the requirements of the 2002 Connecticut Guidelines for Erosion and
Sediment Control. There is minimal erosion hazard due to the generally level landscape.
These controls as well as compliance with permit approvals will assure that no permanent
adverse effects will impact the receiving wetlands.
The proposed site grades will not measurably change the existing drainage patterns. The
proposed drainage system will be equipped with an oil and water separator water quality
unit (WQU) to catch and hold oils from the pavement. The proposed impervious area is
nearly equal to the existing impervious area; therefore, the proposed improvements will
not measurably increase the rate of runoff of the site. The WQU will follow the
manufactures recommended maintenance plan which outlines inspection, reporting and
cleanout requirements. Additionally, the management and operation of the site will
include a spill prevention and contingency cleanup procedure.
Conclusion
The proposed site improvements and modifications provide upgraded industry and
regulatory standards and best management practices to provide a better functioning
commercial property that is more environmentally sensitive than what is existing. Based
on my review, if the actions are adopted and implemented as detailed above, it is my
professional judgement that with the regulated activities will not have a negative effect
on the natural capacity of the wetland system or the functions and services it provides
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at
itcole@gmail.com or (860) 514-5642
Sincerely,
Ian T. Cole
Professional Registered Soil Scientist / Professional Wetland Scientist #2006