25A-166 Bradford Street Pumping Request for Determiantion-Wetlands-1-9-10
REQUEST FOR DETERMINATION OF APPLICABILITY BRADFORD STREET WASTEWATER PUMPING STATION REPLACEMENT FOR CITY OF NORTHAMPTON DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS November
8, 2010 Kleinfelder /S E A Consultants Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts Framingham, Massachusetts Rocky Hill, Connecticut Manchester, New Hampshire 2010215.01-A \\File0\drawings\_clients\Northampton
MA\2010215.01A -Bradford St PS Prelim Design\Permits\RDA\11-8-10 Final to Client for SUbmission\RDA Narrative FINAL 2010-11-08 w client edits.docx
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. WPA Form 1-Request for Determination of Applicability 2. Project Description 3. Existing Conditions 4. Project Impacts & Mitigation Figures USGS Locus Plan CC-1-Existing
Conditions date: 11/8/10 CC-2 -Site Design and Grading Plan date: 11/8/10 CC-3 – Details date: 11/8/10 Appendices A. Wetland Delineation Report
1.0 RDA FORM WPA-1
1 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Bradford Street Wastewater Pumping Station Replacement Project is needed to replace the existing wastewater pumping station that is nearing the end of its
useful life. The pumping station was built in the late 1970’s, and serves the City’s industrial park and several residential units located along Woodmont Road. It is located on a portion
of a 3.12 acre parcel located at the intersection of Bradford Street and Woodmont Road. The existing wastewater pumping station is at its maximum hydraulic flow capacity. The proposed
pumping station will increase the hydraulic capacity to provide for planned and future expansion at the City Industrial Park. Coca Cola North America’s Northampton production facility
is located in the industrial park and is currently undertaking a facility expansion which will increase its wastewater flow discharge. The expanded facility cannot go into operation
until the new Bradford Road Pumping Station is constructed. 2.1 Background The existing Bradford Street Wastewater Pumping Station consists of a separate wet well and dry well configuration.
A photograph of the existing pumping station site is shown below. The eight foot diameter steel dry well is approximately 25-feet deep and can be accessed by a metal cover hatch over
a 36-inch diameter access manhole with steel steps. The dry well interior includes two vertical motor mounted pumps, valves, process piping, pump motor control panel, a compressor for
the bubbler liquid level control system, an alarm dialer, sump pump, a heater and a dehumidifier. The seven foot diameter concrete wet well can be accessed by a 36-inch diameter cast
iron manhole cover over a concrete manhole riser section. The pumping station site is enclosed within a chain-link fenced area that includes a pole mounted main breaker switch, electric
meter, and automatic transfer switch. A backup generator is also located on site. Sheet CC-1 shows the existing site conditions.
2 BRADFORD ST. PUMPING STATION 2.2 Proposed Activities The project will include removal of the existing below-grade wet well, dry well structures and related equipment, and the above
grade back-up generator and exterior electrical facilities. A new pumping station, including new wet and dry wells and associated equipment, will be constructed within the same general
area as the existing pumping station and appurtenant utilities. A new above-grade building measuring approximately 10 feet by 20 feet will be located above the dry well, which will provide
access to the dry well and also house the main electrical equipment for the wastewater pumps and building. The proposed replacement structures will be outside of the Northampton 10-foot
No Encroachment Zone, and will be located approximately within the existing pumping station foot print and the abutting disturbed areas of the site. See Sheet CC-2 for the proposed site
layout. Removal and replacement of the below-grade wet and dry well structures will require excavation to depths of approximately 25 feet. The use of steel sheet piling or soldier piles
with lagging in conjunction with internal steel bracing will be used to confine the extent of excavated area. Dewatering of the excavation area will also be accomplished with well points
and/or sump pumps located within the limits of excavation and discharging to a settling tank prior to discharge to adjacent catch basins. Suitable excavated material will be used when
practical to backfill the excavated area once the new below-grade structures are installed. Where suitable excavated material is not available, the excavation will be backfilled with
imported fill material.
3 The Site Design and Grading Plan (Sheet CC-2) shows the proposed conditions at the site. 2.3 Activities Subject to the Wetlands Protection Act and Local Bylaws The existing structures
and proposed replacement structures are located within the 100-ft buffer zone of Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (BVW). The existing and proposed structures are within the 50-foot buffer
but outside of the Northampton 10-foot No Encroachment Zone. The new pumping station footprint will be similar in size to the existing area. Best practical measures will be used to avoid
and minimize impacts to wetlands resources, as indicated on the attached Site Design and Grading Plan. 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS 3.1 Site Description The project site is located at the
intersection of Woodmont Street and Bradford Street. The majority of the pumping station site is within the 50-foot buffer. Much of the pump station site is already a disturbed area,
as shown in the photograph below. The pumping station site is located at the southwestern corner of of a wooded 3-acre parcel abutting the Norrwottuck rail trail.
4 3.2 Regulated Wetland Resource Areas: The site is located outside of the Connecticut River floodplain, as shown on FEMA maps for the area. The only wetland resource area adjacent to
the pumping station site is a small bordering vegetated wetland. Please refer to the wetland delineation report prepared by Charles H. Dauchy, which is provided in Appendix A, for a
full description. 3.3. Rare Species A review of the most recent GIS mapping data from the Massachusetts Division of Fish & Wildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP),
as viewed on MassGIS Oliver online viewer, indicates that there are no areas of Priority Habitat, Estimated Habitat or vernal pools at or in the vicinity of the site. 4.0 PROJECT IMPACTS
& MITIGATION 4.1 Project Impacts As described in Section 2, all work will be located in the Buffer Zone to BVW, with no direct impacts to wetland resources. While no direct wetland impacts
are proposed, the project could be considered as a “Limited Status” project pursuant to the the Wetlands Protection Act Regulations at 310 CMR 10.53 (3) (d)-public utility. Limited projects
may proceed at the discretion of the issuing authority without fully meeting the applicable resource area performance standards, as per 310 CMR 10.53 (3): “In exercising this discretion
the issuing authority should consider the magnitude of the alteration and the significance of the project site, the availability of reasonable alternatives, the extent to which adverse
impacts have been minimized and the extent to which mitigation measures are provided to contribute to the protection of the interests in the Act.” The public utility Limited project
is described at 310 CMR 10.53 (3)(d) as: The construction, reconstruction, operation and maintenance of underground and overhead public utilities, such as electrical distribution or
transmission lines, or communication, sewer, water and natural gas lines. Although not necessarily required because we are not seeking a Limited Project status, the following applicable
conditions for a utility limited project will be met, as described in Section 4.2: best available measures shall be used to minimize adverse effects during construction;
5 the surface vegetation and contours of the area shall be substantially restored; and all sewer lines shall be constructed to minimize inflow and leakage. 4.2 Avoidance, Minimization
and Mitigation of Impacts: In accordance with the conditions for public utility limited projects, the project will minimize construction impacts by using appropriate erosion/sedimentation
control measures and other best management practices. Silt fencing/haybales will be installed surrounding the limits of work prior to the start of work. These barriers will also represent
the limit of work, as shown on Sheet CC-2 -Site Design and Grading Plan. Silt sacks will be used to protect downgradient catch basins. A detail indicating the installation of the erosion
controls is included on Sheet CC-3 -Details. Erosion and sedimentation controls will be inspected regularly and following major storm events to insure proper functionality. At the time
of inspection, damaged materials will be repaired or replaced, and any accumulated sediments will be removed and properly disposed of by the contractor. Dewatering will be managed with
best available measures for preventing adverse impacts during construction, as described above in section 2.2. Any excess soil remaining after construction will be removed and disposed
of in an appropriate manner. Any disturbance to the vegetated areas of the site will be restored to existing grade with loam and seed once construction is complete, as shown on the plans.
The replacement of the aging pumping station infrastructure with new materials will help to minimize the potential for inflow and leakage. 4.3 Requested Action by Northampton Conservation
Commission The Applicant is seeking a negative determination of applicability by the Commission with respect to the applicability of the work described in reference to the Wetlands Protection
Act and the Northampton Wetland Ordinance.
Figures USGS Locus CC-1 Existing Conditions CC-2 -Site Design and Grading Plan CC-3 – Detail Sheet
. 0 1,000 2,000 Feet 1:15,000 Figure 1 USGS MAP PROJECT SITE
Appendix A: Wetlands Delineation Report