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Wetland Cadorette-Cardinal-Re-Assessment Letter Report 8-16-21 (002).pdf An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/H August 16, 2021 15.0166500.07 Mr. Mark Reed HERITAGE Land Surveying and Engineering, Inc. 241 College Hwy P.O. Box 1 Southampton, MA 01073 Re: Wetland Resource Area Re-Assessment Cardinal Way & 417 Westhampton Road (Assessor’s Map 36 Lots 72-01 & 245-01, respectively) Northampton, MA Dear Mr. Reed, At your request, a Senior Wetland Scientist from GZA conducted a review of the portions of a previously flagged wetland delineation by GZA (c2018) at the above referenced parcels (Site). The purpose of the limited area of wetland re-assessment was to confirm the general placement of the wetland boundary flags that extend jurisdiction into the potential work areas on the Site. Introduction On Tuesday August 3, 2021, a Senior Wetland Scientist from GZA conducted follow-up observations of a 2018 resource area assessment conducted by GZA. Many of the previous flagging was visible and appeared to be located as shown on the site plan. The project Surveyor had reflagged several flag locations with blue flagging and labeled them as shown on the site plan. Although the region has received record rainfall in July, the site appeared to be under normal conditions for the time of year. Re-Assessment Findings Upon completion of our wetland re-assessment of a limited portion of the 2018 wetland flagging shown on the site plan, we conclude that flags reasonably represent the jurisdictional limits of the regulated wetland resources in proximity to the proposed limits of work. The wetland resource areas identified on the Site include Bank, BVW and RA. All BVW and Bank flag series also have a jurisdictional 100-foot Buffer Zone under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act regulations, 310 CMR 10.00 and under the City of Northampton Wetland Protection Ordinance. As per (WPA) 310 CMR 10.01(2), the resource areas on Site likely contribute to the following WPA Interests of the WPA: Protection of Public and Private Water Supply, Protection of Groundwater Supply, Flood Control, Storm Damage Prevention, Prevention of Pollution, Protection of Fisheries, and Protection of Wildlife Habitat. Sincerely, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Daniel M. Nitzsche, CPESC, CESSWI, SE NATURAL RESOURCE SURVEY AND ASSESSMENT LIMITATIONS 15.0166500.07 Page | 1 August 2017 An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/H Proactive by Design USE OF REPORT 1. GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. (GZA) has prepared this report on behalf of, and for the exclusive use of HERITAGE Land Surveying and Engineering, Inc. (“Client”) for the stated purpose(s) and location(s) identified in the report. Use of this report, in whole or in part, at other locations, or for other purposes, may lead to inappropriate conclusions; and we do not accept any responsibility for the consequences of such use(s). Further, reliance by any party not identified in the agreement, for any use, without our prior written permission, shall be at that party’s risk, and without any liability to GZA. STANDARD OF CARE 2. GZA’s findings and conclusions are based on the work conducted as part of the Scope of Services set forth in the Report and/or proposal and reflect our professional judgment. These findings and conclusions must be considered not as scientific or engineering certainties, but rather as our professional opinions concerning the data gathered and observations made during our work. Conditions other than described in this report may be found at the subject location(s). 3. GZA’s services were performed using the degree of skill and care ordinarily exercised by qualified professionals performing the same type of services, at the same time, under similar conditions, at the same or a similar property. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made. LIMITS TO OBSERVATIONS 4. Natural resource characteristics are inherently variable. Biological community composition and diversity can be affected by seasonal, annual or anthropogenic influences. In addition, soil conditions are reflective of subsurface geologic materials, the composition and distribution of which vary spatially. 5. The observations described in this report were made on the dates referenced and under the conditions stated therein. Conditions observed and reported by GZA reflect the conditions that could be reasonably observed based upon the visual observations of surface conditions and/or a limited observation of subsurface conditions at the specific time of observation. Such conditions are subject to environmental and circumstantial alteration and may not reflect conditions observable at another time. 6. The conclusions and recommendations contained in this report are based upon the data obtained from a limited number of surveys performed during our work on the site, as described in the Report. There may be variations between these surveys and other past or future surveys due to inherent environmental and circumstantial variability. RELIANCE ON INFORMATION FROM OTHERS 7. Preparation of this Report may have relied upon information made available by Federal, state and local authorities; and/or work products prepared by other professionals as specified in the report. Unless specifically stated, GZA did not attempt to independently verify the accuracy or completeness of that information. COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS AND CODES 8. GZA’s services were performed to render an opinion on the presence and/or condition of natural resources as described in the Report. Standards used to identify or assess these resources as well as regulatory jurisdiction, if any, are stated in the Report. Standards for identification of jurisdictional resources and regulatory control over them may vary between NATURAL RESOURCE SURVEY AND ASSESSMENT LIMITATIONS 15.0166500.07 Page | 2 August 2017 An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/H Proactive by Design governmental agencies at Federal, state and local levels and are subject to change over time which may affect the conclusions and findings of this report. NEW INFORMATION 9. In the event that the Client or others authorized to use this report obtain information on environmental regulatory compliance issues at the site not contained in this report, such information shall be brought to GZA's attention forthwith. GZA will evaluate such information and, on the basis of this work, may modify the conclusions stated in this report. ADDITIONAL SERVICES 10. GZA recommends that we be retained to provide further investigation, if necessary, which would allow GZA to (1) observe compliance with the concepts and recommendations contained herein; (2) evaluate whether the manner of implementation creates a potential new finding; and (3) evaluate whether the manner of implementation affects or changes the conditions on which our opinions were made.