Attention Griswold & Voluntown Residents: Your comments are welcome!

December 20, 2018

(Please read and share the attached Norwich Bulletin story. It describes planned burns for Pachaug State Forest and the environmental concerns that the burns have raised.  You can express your concerns, too.  If you have questions or comments you can also send them to me at[email protected] and include your name and town – thank you!)
To help prevent possibly devastating wildfires in the Pachaug State Forest, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is planning to set fires of its own early next year.

The notice says DEEP is planning burns in 2019, 2020 and 2021 of up to 346 acres in both towns.

A map with the notice shows the burns in 2019 will take place on a 17-acre site east of Lawrence Road roughly on the Griswold-Voluntown border and a 19-acre site west of Lawrence Road that is just south of the first site.

  • The Environmental Monitor notice says comments from the public about DEEP’s plan are welcome.
  • It also says people can ask to have a Public Scoping Meeting at which DEEP would explain its plan and answer questions.
  • If at least 25 people or an organization of 25 members or more asks, the meeting will be required.
  • Mail requests to: Kevin Grady, Protection Forester, CT DEEP, Bureau of Natural Resources, Goodwin State Forest, 23 Potter Road, Hampton, CT 06247
    Or email to: [email protected]

For information, go to: https://www.ct.gov/ceq/cwp/view.asp?a=987&q=249438#Scoping

Griswold resident Steve Douglas, a gun range opponent, said he worries the burns may interfere with the results of an environmental impact evaluation that has been going on since June.

The evaluation is studying the environmental impact of the gun range.

It is scheduled to finish early next year.

Douglas said the burns, if they take place before the evaluation is finished, could drive away wildlife, possibly including endangered species.

“I’m sure the wildlife are not sticking around,” he said.

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/20181219/deep-to-set-pachaug-state-forest-fires-to-prevent-bigger-blazes