Revised Exhibit 4 Project Information.pdf
Page 1 of 3 02/10/2015
Northampton: North King Street and Exit 21
Drainage Structure Maintenance
PROJECT NARRATIVE
EXHIBIT 4
LOCATION The work included in this Notice of Intent will take place at culverts and headwalls adjacent to North
King Street, and the ramps for Exit 21 off I 91.
Please refer to Exhibit #2 Env. Features Map and Exhibit #1, U.S.G.S. Map.
PROPERTY OWNER(S)
The work will occur within the state highway layout. (See Exhibit #3, Plans):
ABUTTER NOTIFICATION EXEMPTION Massachusetts, Chapter 472 of the Acts of 1993, Section 2, states the notification required by section
one of the Act shall not apply to projects of the “department of highways.”
LIMITED PROJECT STATUS This maintenance project can be classified as a Limited Project under 310 CMR 10.53(3) (f) & (k), see
below.
10.53: General Provisions (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of 310 CMR 10.54 through 10.58 and 10.60, the Issuing
Authority may issue an Order of Conditions and impose such conditions as will contribute to the
interests identified in M.G.L. c. 131, § 40 permitting the following limited projects (although no
such project may be permitted which will have any adverse effect on specified habitat sites of
Rare Species, as identified by procedures established under 310 CMR 10.59). In determining whether to exercise its discretion to approve the limited projects listed in 310 CMR 10.53(3), the
Issuing Authority shall consider the following factors: the magnitude of the alteration and the
significance of the project site to the interests identified in M.G.L. c. 131, § 40, the availability
of reasonable alternatives to the proposed activity, the extent to which adverse impacts are
minimized, and the extent to which mitigation measures, including replication or restoration, are provided to contribute to the protection of the interests identified in M.G.L. c. 131, § 40.
(f) Maintenance and improvement of existing public roadways, but limited to widening less
than a single lane, adding shoulders, correcting substandard intersections, and improving
inadequate drainage systems.
(k) The routine maintenance and repair of road drainage structures including culverts and
catch basins, drainage easements, ditches, watercourses and artificial water conveyances to
insure flow capacities which existed on the effective date of 310 CMR 10.51 through 10.60
(April 1, 1983).
Page 2 of 3 02/10/2015
Northampton: North King Street and Exit 21
Drainage Structure Maintenance
PROJECT NARRATIVE
EXHIBIT 4
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
The proposed project is maintenance of roadway drainage structures, and has been designed as a
minimally invasive approach to restore water flow from several headwalls and culverts. The culverts carry water beneath and away from entrance roads and highway ramps, and various headwalls outlet stormwater from paved areas. The sediment and debris near 8 headwalls and culvert ends will be
removed. Two areas in the southern portion of the project will have mechanical invasive species
removal along the immediate sides of the channel. The proposed work does not include any new
structures, paving or changes to the highway. To avoid erosion and sedimentation various BMP’s will be used, and work will be scheduled to be completed as expeditiously as possible. Many of the headwalls, culverts and swales were constructed in the 1950’s and 1960’s, and since then
have been affected by sediment buildup and vegetation. In very recent years there has been standing
water at headwalls and along highway side slopes. The original drainage of N. King Street and the
Exit 21 ramps is not flowing to, and out of the headwalls as it was when originally constructed in the 1960’s. The original idea for this drainage project planned to dredge a channel from N. King Street, to the Exit 21 ramps. The previous design for this project would have resulted in over 40,000 SF of
impacts to wetlands, due to equipment access and the footprint of the channel. The current work
proposed will allow water to flow down from paved surfaces, and it is hoped that the minimalistic
approach will restore the historic drainage characteristics.
PROJECT IMPACTS: BVW
There is a large open wetland area north of the I 91 Exit 21 ramps, where at one location logging mats
will be temporarily placed. The placement of logging mats is for equipment access at headwall #1. See Exhibit #3, Plans. The work in and near BVW has been minimized to the lowest practical impact. The
proposed impacts are temporary in nature as the logging mats will only be needed for a very short time
to complete the work.
Bank The proposed work has recently changed, and has been reduced to a much narrower, more linear
footprint. The removal of sediment from LUWW will effectively produce a channel for water
movement and restore Bank along both sides. There are eight locations proposed at headwalls and
culvert ends. As a result approximately 360 lf. Of Bank will be restored or enhanced.
LUWW As mentioned above the proposed work has been reduced to eight linear shaped locations to remove
sediment and debris within LUWW, for a total of 660 sf impacts. Each work location is at or near a
headwall or culvert and has been proposed as a minimalistic approach to improve inadequate drainage
systems.
Page 3 of 3 02/10/2015
Northampton: North King Street and Exit 21
Drainage Structure Maintenance
PROJECT NARRATIVE
EXHIBIT 4
There are no other impacts proposed in this Notice of Intent.
The project area and adjacent areas do not contain NHESP Habitat or vernal pools, and there are no
FEMA flood zones nearby.
SEDIMENT AND EROSION CONTROLS: Various erosion control products and practices will be used during the project. Unlike typical projects
this project consists of many small work areas spread throughout the area, and will not have large areas
of disturbance. To minimize the potential for erosion and sedimentation, each work location should be completed and then stabilized before moving to the successive locations. The small and various work
locations can also be scheduled to avoid rainfall events. Erosion controls will include compost mulch
tubes, straw mulch, compost mulch, and erosion control fabrics/netting. See Exhibit 9 Erosion Control
Detail, and the bottom of Plan Sheet #1 Control of Water detail.
The use of mats for equipment access will also help to avoid erosion and soil disturbance. Large wood mats as shown on the Plans, will reduce soil and vegetation disturbance, and will be removed as each
work location is completed.
During construction the contractor will regularly inspect erosion controls, will stabilize disturbed areas,
and if needed will remove accumulated sediments.
DEWATERING Dewatering may be required in the vicinity of wetland areas, and/or surface or subsurface areas where
surface water or groundwater may exist or accumulate. All dewatering and related work shall be
conducted in such a manner as to prevent siltation or contamination of any adjacent resource area.
Pumping discharge shall not be allowed to enter directly or indirectly into any wetland resource area without prior treatment (filter bags, silt sacks, settling basins, etc.
Maintenance and Analysis of Results
Due to the amount of infrastructure in the area, which includes I 91, North King Street, ramps and
roadways, and dozens of drainage structures, the area will be inspected several times over the next two
years. MassDOT requests the use of hand tools during inspection, and removal of any eventual sediment deposits that may occur within the next 5 years. MassDOT can provide documentation to the Conservation Commission if required, to provide details on the status of drainage and needed
maintenance.
All work in resource areas as defined by 310 CMR 10.00 shall be done in accordance with all environmental permit applications and permits including, but not limited to, the following:
Northampton Conservation Commission – Notice of Intent
Northampton Conservation Commission – Orders of Condition Army Corps of Engineers – Mass General Permit