Rest oration Plan and Environmental Asses sment for the Industri-Plex Superfund Site Draft for Public Review February 19, 2020 Prepared by: Industri-Plex NRDAR Trustee Council Commonwealth of Massachusetts U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration With support from: Abt Associates 6130 Executive Boulevard Rockville, MD 20852 Abt Associates Report Title Insert Date ▌1-1 This page intentionally left blank Industri-Plex RP/EA February 19, 2020 ▌i CONTENTS CONTENTS List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................... iv Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. vi 1. Introduction to the Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment ..................... 1 1.1. Trustee Responsibilities and Authorities ................................................................. 1 1.2. Summary of Industri-Plex NRDAR Settlement ........................................................ 2 1.3. Summary of Natural Resource Injuries ................................................................... 2 1.4. Purpose and Need for Restoration .......................................................................... 4 1.5. Restoration Goals ...................................................................................................4 1.6. Coordination and Scoping ....................................................................................... 4 1.6.1 Trustee Council Organization and Activities ................................................ 4 1.6.2 Summary of Public Involvement .................................................................. 5 1.6.3 Public Notification ........................................................................................6 1.6.4 Administrative Record ................................................................................. 6 2. Affected Environment ...................................................................................................7 2.1. Industri-Plex Environment ....................................................................................... 7 2.2. Socioeconomic Environment ................................................................................. 10 3. Restoration Evaluation Criteria .................................................................................. 12 3.1. Regulatory Criteria Set Forth in DOI NRDAR Regulations .................................... 12 3.2. Eligibility Criteria Developed by the Trustees ........................................................ 12 3.3. Evaluation Criteria Utilized by the Trustees to Select Preferred Projects............... 13 4. Restoration Alternatives ............................................................................................. 15 4.1. Summary of Alternatives ....................................................................................... 15 4.1.1 Alternative 1 (Preferred Action Alternative) ................................................ 15 4.1.2 Alternative 2 (Non-Preferred Action Alternative) ........................................ 17 4.1.3 Alternative 3 (No-Action/Natural Recovery Alternative) ............................. 17 4.2. Alternative 1 – Preferred Action Alternative ........................................................... 17 4.2.1 Shaker Glen Extension Wetland and Stream Restoration (Tier 1) ............. 17 4.2.2 Scalley Dam Fishway Design and Construction (Tier 1) ............................ 25 4.2.3 Riverine, Floodplain, and Riparian Habitat Restoration at Davidson Park (“HWG Option 2”) (Tier 1).................................................................. 34 4.2.4 Education and Outreach Activities to Be Incorporated into Tier 1 Projects (Tier 1) ......................................................................................... 45 4.2.5 Horn Pond Brook and Aberjona River Streambank and Fish Passage Restoration (Tier 2) ................................................................................... 50 4.2.6 Habitat Restoration at Mill and Judkins Ponds (Tier 2) .............................. 56 4.2.7 Downstream Fish Passage Restoration at Mystic Lakes Dam (Tier 2)....... 62 4.3. Alternative 2 – Non-Preferred Action Alternative ................................................... 68 4.3.1 Riverine, Floodplain, and Riparian Habitat Restoration at Davidson Park (“HWG Option 3”) .............................................................................. 68 4.3.2 Improved Water Management in the Horn Pond and Horn Pond Brook Tributary Watershed to the Aberjona River ................................................ 73 4.3.3 Freshwater Mussel and Clam Study .......................................................... 76 4.3.4 Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management to Improve Water Quality ....................................................................................................... 81 4.4. Alternative 3 – No-Action/Natural Recovery (Non-Preferred) ................................ 86 4.5. Comparison of Alternatives – NRDAR Evaluation ................................................. 86 Industri-Plex RP/EA February 19, 2020 ▌ii CONTENTS 4.6. Projects Considered but Not Evaluated ................................................................ 90 4.6.1 Land Conservation and Streambank Restoration at the Former Kraft Foods Parcel ............................................................................................. 90 4.6.2 Aberjona River Old Fence Removal .......................................................... 92 5. Monitoring Program, Performance Criteria, and Adaptive Management ................. 94 5.1. Measuring/Evaluating Restoration Progress ......................................................... 94 5.2. Performance Standards and Criteria ..................................................................... 94 5.3. Adaptive Management .......................................................................................... 94 6. Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts of Restoration Alternatives ............... 95 6.1. Requirements for NEPA Analysis and Trustee Approach ...................................... 95 6.2. Impacts of the Proposed Alternatives .................................................................... 96 6.2.1 Fish Passage: Dam and Culvert Replacement .......................................... 96 6.2.2 Fish Passage: Technical and Nature-like Fishways ................................... 96 6.2.3 Wetland Restoration: Levee and Culvert Removal, Modification, and Set-back .................................................................................................... 97 6.2.4 Wetland Restoration: Wetland Restoration and Shoreline Stabilization Techniques ............................................................................................... 98 6.2.5 Wetland Restoration: Wetland Planting ..................................................... 99 6.2.6 Freshwater Stream Restoration: Channel Restoration ............................. 100 6.2.7 Freshwater Stream Restoration: Bank Restoration and Erosion Reduction ................................................................................................ 101 6.2.8 Fish, Wildlife, and Vegetation Management: Invasive Species Control .... 101 6.2.9 Planning, Feasibility Studies, Design Engineering, and Permitting .......... 102 6.2.10 Implementation and Effectiveness Monitoring ......................................... 103 6.2.11 Fish and Wildlife Monitoring .................................................................... 103 6.2.12 Environmental Education Classes, Programs, Centers, Partnerships, and Materials; Training Programs ............................................................ 104 6.2.13 Road Upgrading and Decommissioning: Trail Restoration....................... 105 6.2.14 Signage and Access Management .......................................................... 106 6.3. Summary of Environmental Impacts of the Analyzed Alternatives ....................... 106 6.4. Impacts of the No-Action Alternative ................................................................... 106 6.5. Cumulative Impacts of the Proposed Action Alternatives and the No-Action Alternative ........................................................................................................... 107 7. Compliance with Other Authorities .......................................................................... 109 7.1. Laws ................................................................................................................... 109 7.1.1 Federal Laws ........................................................................................... 109 7.1.2 State Laws .............................................................................................. 110 7.1.3 Local Laws .............................................................................................. 112 7.2. Policies and Directives ........................................................................................ 113 7.2.1 Federal Policies and Directives ............................................................... 113 7.2.2 State and Local Policies .......................................................................... 113 8. Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 114 9. List of Parties Consulted