HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoundaries, LLC- Mr. Sorrentino - COMMENTS 10_10_18
John U. Faulise, Jr., L.S. Jeffrey P. Dewey, P.E.
Jacob S. Faulise, E.I.T. Demian A. Sorrentino, AICP, C.S.S.
Boundaries LLC
179 Pachaug River Drive
P.O. Box 184
Griswold, CT 06351
T 860.376.2006 | F 860.376.5899
www.boundariesllc.net
October 10, 2018
Town of Montville
Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission
Attn: Ms. Nancy Woodlock, Wetlands Enforcement Officer
310 Norwich‐New London Tpk.
Uncasville, CT 06382
RE: Review Comments for Unpermitted Work Within Wetland/Wetland Buffer
Earth Materials & Construction Debris Processing & Recycling Facility
Location: 18 Sachatello Industrial Drive, Oakdale (ID#005‐027‐010)
Owner/Applicant: Holly Lombardi Land Holdings LLC
Dear Commissioners,
The undersigned has been requested to independently review a 2‐page plan set entitled: “18 Sachatello
Industrial Drive, Town of Montville, Connecticut, Holly Lombardi Land Holdings, LLC, Lot 3 Combination &
Reconfiguration, Lombardi Business Park, Restoration Plan, Project No. GSD‐51, Proj. Engineer E.M.B., Date:
09‐29‐18, Sheets No. 1 & 2” as prepared by Green Site Design LLC/CLA Engineers.
With the consent of the owner, a site inspection was conducted upon the subject property on Friday, October
5, 2018 between the hours of 11:30A and 1:00P by the undersigned and Montville Wetlands Enforcement
Officer (WEO) Nancy Woodlock.
Site Observations:
Based on my observations, the work being conducted on site consists of the following:
1. Mixing and screening of what appears to be topsoil, mineral subsoil, decomposed wood debris and
animal manure to produce a useable, nutrient rich topsoil. Constituent materials are imported,
mixed on‐site, and the end product exported.
2. Stockpiling of construction debris, primarily concrete and bituminous concrete, that is crushed and
mixed with gravel to produce a useable fill material. There is also present a stockpile of the end
(crushed/mixed) product, indicating that the crushing and mixing likely occurs here. Constituent
materials are imported, processed on‐site, and the end product exported.
3. Import and stockpiling of crushed granite in 2 separate stockpiles, possibly for further crushing on‐
site or for sale or export as riprap. Based on my findings under Wetland Impact Area #1 below, it is
likely that the crushing of granite occurs here as well.
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4. Import and stockpiling of wood debris, most likely from land clearing/grubbing activity that occurs
off‐site.
As a general observation, the work being performed here is valuable both to the economy and the
environment. Considering the intense industrial nature of the land uses employed, it is the opinion of the
undersigned that the impact(s) to adjacent wetland resources are relatively minor as compared to other sites
I have observed.
Plan Comments:
1. The plan is lacking sufficient detail as to what disturbance(s) have occurred to date within wetland(s)
and regulated areas (purported violations that are the subject of the Show Cause Hearing).
2. The plan lacks identifiable site features that would aid the undersigned, the WEO and others in
wayfinding while conducting site inspection(s).
3. The plan lacks sufficient detail as to the current topography of the site to properly depict the location
of berms and swales, and to analyze stormwater flow directions.
4. The plan depicts wetland limits that are not easily identifiable on the site, as few flag remnants
remain in the field.
5. The plan does not indicate when the depicted wetland delineation work was performed.
6. The plan does not identify nor include the signature of the delineating soil scientist.
7. The plan does not include a construction sequence as is typical of remediation plans.
8. The plan does not include any construction details such as those for planting, sediment fence
installation, etc.
Review Comments & Recommendations:
Wetland Impact Area #1 (northwest corner adjacent to granite stockpiles)
1. There is a fairly significant area of sedimentation that has occurred here. Site runoff is channelized
through a swale located in‐between the granite stockpiles, and discharges to the wetland with no
scour protection. Sediment deposited above native topsoil varies in depth (observed 10” max.) and
covers an area approximately 50’ x 75’. Deposited sediment is dark gray in color and consistent
throughout, likely granite dust washed out for years from the crushing and stockpiling areas.
2. Project Engineer should identify the extent of this sedimentation.
3. Project Soil Scientist should inspect the area and consider if removal of the sediment and/or
remediation of the wetland would be beneficial to the resource.
4. As a portion of the site stormwater drains to this corner of the site, design and construction of a
sediment trap should be incorporated into the proposed wetland/upland review area remediation to
prevent future sedimentation into the wetland resource.
Wetland Impact Area #2 (along westerly clearing limit)
1. The earthen berm and concrete jersey barriers have been breached in locations, and earth materials
have been deposited in or adjacent to the wetland (not clear in the field where the wetland limit is).
2. Algal mat is present on sediment deposits and standing water on the site side of the berm/barrier,
indicating that nutrient rich stormwater runoff (likely from animal manure) is reaching the site
perimeter under and/or around the stockpiled construction debris.
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3. As a large portion of the site stormwater drains to this side of the site, design and construction of a
substantial linear wood chip berm (or similar) and linear sediment trap should be incorporated into
the proposed wetland/upland review area remediation to prevent future sediment and nutrient
introduction into the wetland resource.
Wetland Impact Area #3 (along southerly clearing limit)
1. Due to the presence of an existing cutoff swale and associated berm, it is not clear where the
wetland delineation line is.
2. The cutoff swale/berm are entirely intact, somewhat vegetated, not eroded and appear to be
functioning as intended. The end of the swale discharges in the vicinity of the southerly end of
Wetland Impact Area #2. No erosion or sedimentation is evidenced at the discharge point.
3. Unless the Project Soil Scientist thinks it detrimental, the Project Engineer might consider modifying
the proposed wetland/upland review area remediation to leave this functional swale/berm in place.
Wetland impact Area #4 (northeast corner)
1. There is some sedimentation that has occurred here. Silt sized particles have been carried by site
stormwater runoff into the adjacent wetlands. Standing water was cloudy with sediment on the day
of inspection, though precipitation had not occurred for 3 days prior.
2. Algal mat is present on sediment deposits and standing water, indicating nutrient rich stormwater
runoff (likely from animal manure) is reaching the wetland resource.
3. Project Engineer should identify the extent of sedimentation within the wetland.
4. Project Soil Scientist should inspect the area and consider if removal of the sediment and/or
remediation of the wetland would be beneficial to the resource.
4. As a portion of the site stormwater drains to this corner, design and construction of a sediment trap
should be incorporated into the proposed wetland/upland review area remediation to prevent
future sedimentation and nutrient release into the wetland resource.
Please note that I would not typically submit review comments on the day prior to the meeting for an
application, but the short timeline presented for this matter has unfortunately required me to do so. I trust
the Applicant’s representative understands our time constraint.
Per your request, I will attend the Special Meeting of the Montville IW&WC to be held on Thursday, October
11, 2018 to discuss this matter further with the Commission. If you have any questions or concerns in the
interim, please contact me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Demian A. Sorrentino, AICP, C.S.S.
Certified Planner & Soil Scientist
Boundaries LLC
C: File