Commonwealth of Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office

Environmental Notification Form

For Office Use Only EEA#: MEPA Analyst:

The information requested on this form must be completed in order to submit a document electronically for review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, 301 CMR 11.00.

Project Name: Whitney Pond Dam Removal Street Address: N/A north and west of Gardner Road (Route 101) Municipality: Ashburnham Watershed: Whitman River Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinates: Latitude: 42º 36' 38" X: 258754 Y: 4721740 Longitude: -71º 56’ 26” Estimated commencement date: Dependent Estimated completion date: Dependent upon funding upon funding Project Type: Dam Removal/Ecological Restoration Status of project design: 50% complete Proponent: Town of Ashburnham Department of Public Works Street Address: 17 Central Street (Route 101) Municipality: Ashburnham State: MA Zip Code: 01430 Name of Contact Person: Allen Orsi, P.E. Firm/Agency: Pare Corporation Street Address: 10 Lincoln Road, Suite 103 Municipality: Foxborough State: MA Zip Code: 02035 Phone: (508) 543-1755 Fax: (508) 543-1881 E-mail: [email protected] Does this project meet or exceed a mandatory EIR threshold (see 301 CMR 11.03)? Yes No

If this is an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (ENF) (see 301 CMR 11.05(7)) or a Notice of Project Change (NPC), are you requesting:

a Single EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.06(8)) Yes No a Special Review Procedure? (see 301CMR 11.09) Yes No a Waiver of mandatory EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.11) Yes No a Phase I Waiver? (see 301 CMR 11.11) Yes No (Note: Greenhouse Gas Emissions analysis must be included in the Expanded ENF.)

Which MEPA review threshold(s) does the project meet or exceed (see 301 CMR 11.03)? 11.03(3)(a) Structural alteration of a dam that reduces impoundment capacity 11.03(3)(b)(1)f. Alteration of one half or more acres of any other wetlands (LUWW)

Which State Agency Permits will the project require? MADEP Water Quality Certification, Ashburnham Conservation Commission Order of Conditions, CH. 253 Dam Safety Permit

Identify any financial assistance or land transfer from an Agency of the Commonwealth, including the Agency name and the amount of funding or land area in acres: Executive Office of Energy and

Environmental Affairs – Dam and Seawall Grant

Effective January 2011 Summary of Project Size Existing Change Total & Environmental Impacts LAND Total site acreage 6.221 New acres of land altered 4.79± 2 Acres of impervious area 0.02 0 0.02 Square feet of new bordering vegetated wetlands alteration 7,731±3 Square feet of new other wetland 0.18± ac. LUW (pond) to upland (cap) alteration 0.28± ac LUW (Pond) to LUW (restored river) 4.47± ac. LUW (Pond) to riparian area 0.14± ac. LUW (River) to riparian area Acres of new non-water dependent 0

use of tidelands or waterways STRUCTURES Gross square footage N/A N/A N/A Number of housing units N/A N/A N/A Maximum height (feet) N/A N/A N/A TRANSPORTATION Vehicle trips per day N/A N/A N/A Parking spaces N/A N/A N/A WASTEWATER Water Use (Gallons per day) N/A N/A N/A Water withdrawal (GPD) N/A N/A N/A Wastewater generation/treatment N/A N/A N/A (GPD) Length of water mains (miles) N/A N/A N/A Length of sewer mains (miles) N/A N/A N/A

Has this project been filed with MEPA before? Yes (EEA # ) No

Has any project on this site been filed with MEPA before? Yes (EEA # ) No

1 Includes LOD and upstream impoundment area subject to dewatering 2 Includes dewatered areas of impoundment, capped sediment, and shifted river channel 3 Temporary impacts - 2 -

This Expanded Environmental Notification Form (EENF), seeking a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) waiver pursuant to 301 CMR 11.11, addresses the proposed Whitney Pond Dam Removal in Ashburnham, Massachusetts. The primary purpose of this project is to address deficient infrastructure, restore ecologic and hydrologic connectivity, improve aquatic habitat, and address contaminated sediment issues. Activities will include removal of the dam, stabilization of the river channel within the dam breach, and dredge and removal of contaminated sediment in the impoundment. The Town of Ashburnham is the project proponent and funding is provided in part by a Dam and Seawall Grant through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Existing Conditions According to MassGIS data, the Whitman River Watershed totals approximately 43 square miles and is located within the larger Watershed. The Whitney Pond Dam (National ID: MA01671, State ID: 3-14-11-22) impounds the Whitman River to form Whitney Pond in the upper reaches of the watershed.

The Whitman River originates at the southeastern end of Lake Wampanoag and flows approximately 1 mile before entering the northwest end of Whitney Pond where it becomes impounded by the dam. Downstream of the dam spillway the Whitman River flows in a southeasterly direction eventually joining the at the Westminster border with Fitchburg.

The Whitney Pond Dam (“the dam”) was originally constructed to provide hydropower to industrial mills including the WF Whitney Furniture Co., Inc. dating back to the 19th century. Industrial manufacturing appears to have ended by 1975 and the dam has since become obsolete. The impoundment is currently not used for any commercial, industrial, water supply, or other such use. Recreational uses are reported to be infrequent. A railroad line operated adjacent to the manufacturing facilities and crossed Whitney Pond via a bridge and earthen embankment approximately 200 feet upstream of the dam. The railroad is no longer in operation and the bridge crossing remains in place.

The dam is approximately 290-feet long and 18-feet high consisting of a concrete wall along the upstream side and a masonry stone wall on the downstream side. It appears that earthen/boulder fill is between the two walls. A concrete spillway weir acts as the primary spillway and an informal auxiliary spillway is located at the western end of the dam in the place of a former building foundation. Additionally, two low-level gated outlets extend through the dam. Under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts dam safety rules and regulations the dam is classified as an Intermediate-size, Significant (Class II) hazard potential structure. Inspections completed by Tighe and Bond in October, 2015 and Pare in January, 2018 found the dam to be in poor condition due primarily to deteriorated concrete, failing outlet conduits, displaced stone masonry, and vegetation growing on and near the dam embankment. Based upon the deficiencies reported in the Inspection report and a dam removal preliminary feasibility study, the Town of Ashburnham is pursuing removal of the dam.

Sediments within the impoundment and downstream were quantified and analyzed by Pare in a sampling program designed to inform sediment management. Study results indicated that sediment depths range from 0.5 to 3 feet in the impoundment equating to approximately 2,250 cubic yards of accumulated sediment. Preliminary volume estimates indicate that 2,000 cubic yards are prone to downstream migration due to greater than 10% of silt present in the majority of sediment samples. Two rounds of sediment samples underwent chemical analysis. The initial round of laboratory analysis indicated that MCP Method S-1/GW-1 cleanup standard thresholds were exceeded for both arsenic and several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) along with Threshold Effects Concentration (TEC) exceedances of mercury, copper, lead, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in sediment upstream of the dam. It also indicated exceedances of Probable Effects Concentration (PEC) thresholds for several PAHs within the impoundment. The second round of sampling which included two waste characterization composite samples indicated exceedance of TEC thresholds for the above contaminants however no exceedances of MCP S1/GW1 or PEC thresholds in sediment upstream of the dam. Additionally, the upstream waste characterization sample results, which more fully represent the sediments, were characteristic of non-hazardous soils and in exceedance of TEC values for arsenic, mercury, lead and PAHs. Downstream samples from both sampling rounds indicated that sediments below the dam generally have consistent concentrations of heavy metals and PCB congeners with higher concentrations of PAHs that are above PEC thresholds. Based upon sediment results it was concluded that offsite reuse of the material is not feasible due to the exceedance of the MCP S1/GW1 level

- 3 - for arsenic and several PAHs in initial sampling, however onsite stabilization and in stream management are viable alternatives for sediment management.

The project site is not located within any Area of Environmental Concern, Estimated or Priority Habitats, or Outstanding Resource Waters according to the most up to date MassGIS data. In addition, the site does not contain any certified or potential vernal pools mapped by NHESP. Wetland resource areas identified in the vicinity of the dam include Banks and Land Under Water associated with Whitney Pond and the Whitman River; Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (BVW) are located downstream of the dam along both sides of the Whitman River and on the west side of the railroad embankment bordering Whitney Pond. Bordering Land Subject to Flooding (BLSF) associated with the Whitman River and Whitney Pond occupies portions of the site upstream and downstream of the dam. The entire site is located within the 100-foot Buffer Zone and 200- foot Riverfront Area. Existing conditions are shown on the attached plans.

According to the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) inventory, the dam is located immediately southwest of the Whitney W.F. Chair Company Warehouse (ASB.153) within the South Ashburnham Historic District (ASB.B). A Project Notification Form (PNF) was provided to MHC, the Bureau of Underwater Archaeological Resources (BUAR), applicable Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, and the Ashburnham Historic Commission in February of 2020. As of the date of this MEPA submission no responses to the PNF have been received. A copy of the PNF and certified mail receipts are attached in EENF Section 7.

Proposed Work The project will include breaching and removing the dam and appurtenances, removal and stabilization of contaminated sediment within the impoundment, and restoring the stream channel in the vicinity of the dam breach. The proposed work is shown on the attached plans.

Prior to dam removal the site will be cleared for construction access and erosion and sediment controls will be installed. Construction access will be provided by a road along the existing railroad and dam embankments. A staging area will preferably be located in the school bus parking lot west of the site however this is contingent upon coordination with the owner of the adjacent lot. A coffer dam will be installed at the upstream side of the opening in the railroad embankment, and the lower impoundment will be fully drawn down. A water diversion system will be installed to divert flows from the upper impoundment to the Whitman River downstream of the dam. The existing spillway channel will be filled in and the dam embankment will be excavated and graded to form the desired dimensions of the channel as depicted in the Plans. Riprap will be installed in areas prone to erosion along the breach embankments. The channel slopes and disturbed areas along the dam embankment will be loamed and seeded.

Once the downstream impoundment is fully drawn down a sediment barrier will be installed in the northeastern corner of the lower impoundment to establish a sediment storage area. Approximately 1,200 cubic yards of sediment will be mechanically dredged from the impoundment and stabilized in the storage area. After the dam is breached a sediment trap will be installed upstream of the breach to collect any sediment in the upstream impoundment that is mobilized when the upstream coffer dam and bypass channel are removed and flowing conditions are established. Mobilized sediment will be mechanically removed and placed in the sediment storage location which will then be capped.

The existing opening in the railroad embankment that separates the upstream and downstream impoundments will potentially need to be removed and/or modified to accommodate increased hydraulic head and flow velocities established once the dam is breached. The extent of alterations will be refined following completion of additional hydrologic and hydraulic analyses. It is expected that modifications may include the removal of the deteriorating bridge and increasing the opening size to a wider channel. This work would be relatively minor and associated wetland impacts would be limited to 100-foot Buffer Zone and the banks of Whitney Pond in the vicinity of the existing bridge.

Alternatives Dam removal alternatives evaluated included the No Action alternative; Dam Repair; and Dam Removal. Under the no-action alternative, the existing dam structure would remain continuing to deteriorate over time forcing the Town to continue ongoing monitoring and repairs to keep the dam in compliance with Dam Safety Regulations. Under this alternative the restoration of the upper Whitman River and the associated ecological benefits would not be realized, and the hydrology and aquatic ecosystem of the river would remain fragmented. This alternative would also increase long-term costs associated with ongoing maintenance of the dam. The Town has committed to being proactive in this issue and the no-action alternative is not considered feasible.

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