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246-0701.pdfDATE:March 08, 2017 Municipality NORTHAMPTON (city/town) RE: NOTIFICATION OF WETLANDS PROTECTION ACT FILE NUMBER The Department of Environmental Protection has received a Notice of Intent filed in accordance with the Wetlands Protection Act (M.G.L. c. 131, §40): Applicant: Address: LOCUS: SMITH COLLEGE, FACILITIES 126 WEST STREET WEST STREET (ATHLETIC FIELDS) Owner:TRUSTEES OF SMITH COLLEGE Address:126 WEST STREET NORTHAMPTON, MA, 01060 This project has been assigned the following file # :WE 246-0701 Although a file # is being issued, please note the following: Commissioner MARTIN SUUBERG Secretary MATTHEW A. BEATON Lieutenant Governor KARYN E. POLITO Governor CHARLES D. BAKER A FILE NUMBER ONLY INDICATES THAT THE APPLICATION CONTAINS THE MINIMAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS AND IS ADMINISTRATIVELY COMPLETE - NOT THAT THE INFORMATION IN THE APPLICATION IS ADEQUATE FOR ISSUANCE OF AN ORDER OF CONDITIONS. 436 DWIGHT STREET, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01103 413-784-1100 WESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS NORTHAMPTON, MA 01060 [1] The Commission shall wait for 30 days or comments received from NHESP, whichever is first, before it closes the public hearing [2] The plan sheet L2 describes 2,617 square feet of additional impervious area and the narrative states there will be 2,890 sq. ft. Please clarify. The narrative also states there will be only 3,000 sq. ft. of mitigation. Since mitigation is proposed, then the requirements of 310 CMR 10.58(5)(g) must be met at a 2 to 1 basis, therefore the regulations have not apparently been met. One can also do part of the work as restoration, part as mitigation. It is not clear that an improvement over existing conditions has been provided. Acceptable improvements include, but are not limited to: 1) A net reduction of impervious surfaces; 2) Planting of indigenous plant species. This improvement must be over and above any restoration and/or mitigation. [3] In the resource area impacts for Land Subject to Flooding, it states the FIRM was digitized and shown on the plans. Doing that does not comply with the regulations. One must first review the Flood Insurance Study and then use the FIRM to confirm the base flood elevations. Overlaying the flood map onto a plan will not usually provide the correct areas that are subject to flooding. This information is available in alternate format. Call Donald M. Gomes, ADA Coordinator at 617-556-1057. TDD# 1-866-539-7622 or 1-617-574-6868. http://www.mass.gov/dep Printed on Recycled Paper SMITH COLLEGE, FACILITIES 126 WEST STREET NORTHAMPTON, MA 01060 [4] Please note the requirements of 310 CMR 10.58(5)(h) for a continuing condition in the Certificate of Compliance prohibiting further alteration of the restoration and/or mitigation areas except to maintain them in their restored or mitigated condition. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact: MARK STINSON @ (413)-755-2257 Cc: Northampton Conservation Commission, CITY HALL, 210 MAIN STREEET RM 11, Northampton, MA, 01060 Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, Div of Fisheries & Wildlife Route 135, North Drive, Westborough, MA, 01581 Owner: Trustees of Smith College, 126 West Street, NORTHAMPTON, MA, 01060 Representative: The Berkshire Design Group, Inc., 4 Allen Place, NORTHAMPTON, MA, 01060 This information is available in alternate format. Call Donald M. Gomes, ADA Coordinator at 617-556-1057. TDD# 1-866-539-7622 or 1-617-574-6868. http://www.mass.gov/dep Printed on Recycled Paper