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Commission authorizes city staff to grant EnviroScience access for EPA wetlands assessment
Summary
EnviroScience asked for permission to access the Cedar Swamp Wildlife Management Area for the U.S. EPA’s National Wetland Condition Assessment; the commission voted to authorize staff to complete permission paperwork and to require written authorization for field crews.
EnviroScience presented the protocol and access request for the U.S. EPA’s National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) and the Torrington Conservation Commission voted to authorize staff to sign the city permission form.
Michael of EnviroScience explained the NWCA is a five-year rotating, statistically randomized wetlands assessment done for the EPA. He said the contractor team will sample vegetation plots, buffer plots, soil pits and water at randomized points and that some sample plots fall immediately adjacent to or partially over the city’s Cedar Swamp Wildlife Management Area boundary. “We will be hiking in to your property and packing in the equipment that we need,” Michael said, adding the crew will fill any temporary soil pits and minimize disturbance.
Carlin, the field lead, described the preferred access point from a small pull-off on Cedar Lane and emphasized that EnviroScience will not drive vehicles on city property, though they would like permission to park a single truck at the pull-off if practical. Commissioners discussed the need for a written authorization to show to adjacent homeowners who may mistake crew activity for trespass; staff agreed to provide a signed written authorization that crews will carry on site.
Chair sought a motion to authorize staff (Nate) to fill out and submit the permission forms; the motion passed. The commission recorded no conditions beyond requiring written authorization be carried on site and asking staff to confirm signage/clarification to neighbors if needed.
EnviroScience said sampling would be scheduled and crews would follow the stated NWCA field protocols to limit site disturbance and to pack out all materials.
