Final Environmental Impact Report - Whittier Bridge/I-95 ...

EEA#14427 DEIR Certificate December 30,2011
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to Sections 11.03(1)(a)(2), 11.03(3)(a)(2) and
11.03(6)(a)(1)(b) of the MEPA regulations because it is a project being undertaken by a State
Agency and because it will result in the creation of ten or more acres of impervious area, a
potential alteration requiring a variance in accordance with the Wetlands Protection Act (WPA),
and the widening of an existing roadway by one or more travel lanes for two or more miles. The
project is also undergoing MEPA review pursuant to Section 11.03(10)(b)(1) because it involves
the demolition of a historic structure listed in the Inventory of Historic and Archeological Assets
of the Commonwealth.
The project will require: Orders of Conditions from the Newburyport, Amesbury, and
Salisbury Conservation Commissions (and, on appeal only, Superseding Orders of Conditions
from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)); a Chapter 91
Waterway License, a Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC), and possibly, a Variance
from the provisions in the WPA from MassDEP; review under the Massachusetts Endangered
Species Act (MESA) by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP);
federal consistency review by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM); a
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit from
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) for stormwater discharges from
a construction site; a Section 9 Bridge Permit from the United States Coast Guard; a Section 404
Programmatic General Permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. A Construction
Dewatering Permit and a Notice of Construction & Demolition may also be required from
MassDEP. The project is subject to the EEAlMEPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Policy and
Protocol.
The local conservation commissions have approved the wetland resource area boundaries
within the project study area in separate Orders of Resource Area Delineation (ORAD). The
project has undergone Section 106 Review by the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC),
and MHC has determined that the project would result in an adverse effect.
Because the project is being undertaken and financed by a State Agency, MEPA
jurisdiction for this project is broad and extends to all aspects of the project that are likely,
directly or indirectly, to cause Damage to the Environment, as defined in the MEPA regulations.
The project is subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). It
will require an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Record of Decision from FHWA.
MassDOT has agreed to undergo ajoint review process, and accordingly, prepared a joint
EA/DEIR. The DEIR indicates that public and agency coordination (public comment and review
periods) will continue throughout the review of the EA/DEIR and the development of the FEIR
to ensure coordinated and consistent review of this significant public project.
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