West Orange_Additional Environmental Info_82924

Public Service Electric and Gas Company Electric Transmission & Distribution – Projects & Construction 4000 Hadley Road, Mail Code 430 South Plainfield, NJ 07080 August 29, 2024 Via Email and FedEx Diana Chandler-Zimmermann, Zoning Board Secretary Township of West Orange Zoning Board of Adjustment 66 Main Street West Orange, New Jersey 07052 RE: PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY (PSE&G) WEST ORANGE SWITCHING STATION - 26KV LIFECYCLE PROJECT APPLICATION NO. ZBA-24-06 325 MOUNT PLEASANT AVENUE - BLOCK 155, LOT 26.01 TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE, ESSEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION Dear Ms. Chandler-Zimmerman: Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is providing additional information to supplement our site plan/variance application (ZB-24-06) for the West Orange Switching Station (Station). In accordance with comments from the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s members and the public on August 15, 2024, PSE&G is providing: 1. Six (6) copies of the Revised Landscaping Plan Set, including the following sheets: a. Drawing No. TR-01, Tree Removal Plan, dated 12/22/2022, last revised 8/11/2024 b. Drawing No. TR-02, Tree Removal Notes & Details, dated 12/22/2022, last revised 8/11/2024 c. Drawing No. TR-03, Tree Removal Notes & Details, dated 12/22/2022 d. Drawing No. L-01, Landscape Plan, dated 12/22/2022, last revised 8/11/2024 e. Drawing No. L-02, Landscape Notes & Details, dated 12/22/2022, last revised 8/11/2024 2. Six (6) copies of the color Landscape Rendering, dated 12/22/2022, last revised 8/14/2024 3. Six (6) copies of an Environmental Impact Memorandum. In accordance with § 25-13.3b, an EIS is only required if the subject development is five (5) acres or more. Since the proposed 26 kV yard and fence replacement is only 3.92 acres, PSE&G had requested a waiver. Based on a discussion with Mr. Erik DeLine, with the Nishuane Group, LLC, on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, PSE&G agreed to provide additional information to supplement the application. Applications for station upgrades have been routinely submitted to the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Township of West Orange since at least 1988.

Diana Chandler-Zimmermann, Zoning Board Secretary August 29, 2024 Township of West Orange Page 2 We believe there are only two (2) major environmental considerations in connection with PSE&G’s current application: vegetation removal and stormwater management. Impacts to vegetation have been addressed in the enclosed revised Landscaping Plans and will be discussed in great detail by PSE&G’s Landscape Architect, while impacts to stormwater are addressed in the Stormwater Management Report and will be addressed in great detail by PSE&G’s Civil Engineer. The Station is generally sited on level portions of the property. We look forward to continuing to present our proposal before the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Should you have any questions or require additional information, please contact me at (908) 907- 0767 or by email at Noreen.Merainer@pseg.com. Sincerely, Noreen Merainer, AICP, PP, PMP PSE&G Licensing Project Manager

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT MEMORANDUM Submitted Pursuant to the Township of West Orange §25-13-3(b) For: West Orange Switching Station 325 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Block 155, Lot 26.01 Township of West Orange, Somerset County Submitted to: ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WEST ORANGE Submitted by: PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS COMPANY (PSE&G) 4000 HADLEY ROAD SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY 07080 August 29, 2024

Environmental Impact Memorandum August 29, 2024 Township of West Orange Page 1 1.0 Project Description Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is applying for Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan Approval in connection with upgrades to our West Orange Switching Station located at the above-referenced address. The improvements will bolster the existing 26kV system to increase reliability of service to customers within the Township of West Orange and surrounding municipalities in Essex County. The Switching Station directly connects to PSE&G facilities in Caldwell, Irvington, East Orange, and South Orange and is part of a larger electric grid. This upgrade is being referred to as the 26kV Lifecycle Project, where the intent is to remove and replace outdated 26kV equipment. The Station has been owned and operated by PSE&G as a public utility use at this location for almost 100 years and will remain a public utility use following the completion of the proposed site improvements. The station will continue to be unmanned, with visits by approximately one (1) to two (2) maintenance vehicles biweekly. The existing station yard will remain relatively flat to accommodate the installation of the proposed 1-story 26kV switchgear, feeder reactors, 26kV bus supports, shallow slab and spread footing foundations to support the equipment, and new drive paths in the southeast corner. Additionally, PSE&G proposes six (6) 70-foot-tall lightning masts to protect the new equipment from lightning strikes. These improvements are similar in physical appearance to those which presently exist within the station. A linear stormwater bioretention basin system is proposed to be installed east of the 26kV yard and parallel with Prospect Avenue. Any trees cleared will be replaced with a suitable buffer along Mount Pleasant and Prospect Avenues. PSE&G also proposes to remove the antiquated perimeter wrought iron fence and replace it with a modern eight-foot (8’) decorative Ameristar-brand fence along Mount Pleasant and Prospect Avenues, and a portion of the western Mount Pleasant Avenue access driveway. 2.0 Site Description and Inventory 2.1 Types of Soils The 26 kV yard is located in a previously disturbed area. Soil inventory information can be found in the Stormwater Management Report; in Section 1.4, Soils, and in Appendix E, Subsurface Investigation.

Environmental Impact Memorandum August 29, 2024 Township of West Orange Page 2 2.2 Topography Existing and proposed topographic conditions are shown on the Survey and Site Plan. Generally, the Station is sited on level portions of the property, which slopes downward from Prospect Avenue and partially upwards from Mount Pleasant Avenue. 2.3 Geology According to NJ-GeoWeb, the Township is located within the Piedmont physiographic province of New Jersey, as shown on the New Jersey Geological Survey map. The underlying bedrock of the Piedmont province is sedimentary rocks of Triassic and Jurassic age (240 million to 140 million years) and igneous rocks of Jurassic age. Locally, the NJ-GeoWeb Geology dataset shows that the site is underlain by fine- to medium- grained basalt comprising the Orange Mountain Basalt bedrock geologic formation (Jo). Superimposed on this bedrock foundation are deposits comprised of clayey silt to sandy silt with some to many pebbles and cobbles and few boulders comprising the Rahway Till surficial geologic formation (Qwtr). The site is also located within the mapped Scattered Bedrock Outcrop (sbo) geologic formation. Depth to bedrock conditions are presented in the Subsurface Investigation Report, which can be found in Appendix E of the Stormwater Management Report submitted as part of the initial application. 2.4 Vegetation The current land use for the site, according to the Land Use/Land Cover of New Jersey 2020 dataset is transportation/communication/utilities and other urban or built-up land. A small portion of the site along Prospect Avenue and Mount Pleasant Avenue is mapped as deciduous forest (10-50% crown closure). The majority of the site has been previously developed with various utility uses; areas outside of the existing Station yards consist of maintained landscaping with grass and various tree species. A location map and full listing of all tree species inventoried on the site is provided on the Tree Removal Plan and Notes & Details sheets (TR-01 and -02). A subset of the surveyed trees were noted as in poor health and were subsequently removed to mitigate hazards. Additionally, the former West Orange Township Forester, Mr. Ron Farr, asked for dead ash trees to be removed in a communication to PSE&G dated December 29, 2021.

Environmental Impact Memorandum August 29, 2024 Township of West Orange Page 3 2.5 Surface Water No natural surface water features, including waterbodies (streams or lakes) or wetlands are present on the site. Additionally, no floodplain areas are present on the site, as explained in the Stormwater Management Report submitted as part of the initial application. Drainage patterns, including existing surface runoff conditions and proposed conditions, are also presented in the Stormwater Management Report. 2.6 Subsurface Water Appendix E of the Stormwater Management Report, Subsurface Investigation Report, documents subsurface water conditions. Groundwater seepage was encountered at depths ranging from approximately 4 to 9 feet and is estimated to be about 10 feet below grade. 2.7 Unique, Scenic and/or Historic Features The Station is a man-made feature and, to PSE&G’s knowledge, is not included on the New Jersey or National Historic Register for Essex County. 2.8 Existing Development Features PSE&G’s West Orange Switching Station is the predominant feature present on the site. The Station consists of several buildings: a multi-story brick building, a one-story control house, and two (2) additional smaller-footprint single-story buildings. The station yards are surfaced with three-quarter inch (¾”) crushed stone and comprises of various spread concrete pad foundations which support outdoor electrical process equipment. The 230kV electrical equipment is secured by an internal eight foot (8’) high chain-link fence. There are two (2) access driveways which exist along Mount Pleasant Avenue and one (1) access driveway along Prospect Avenue. A six foot (6’) high brick and mortar pillar and wrought iron fence secures the remaining property along Mount Pleasant and Prospect Avenues. PSE&G cannot maintain the fence due to its age and type of construction. Repairing old- fashioned wrought iron fencing is laborious, time-consuming, and costly. The fence is rusting and in disrepair and does not meet current safety standards. Photos of the fence, taken on August 28, 2024 by Project Manager Miguel Briones, are attached. The deteriorating condition of the fence was noted in a customer complaint on July 12, 2022. According to PSE&G’s files, the condition of the fence was a recurring issue in Zoning Board of Adjustment site plan/variance applications in 1992, 1997 and 2007.

customer complaint on July 12, 2022. According to PSE&G’s files, the condition of the fence was a recurring issue in Zoning Board of Adjustment site plan/variance applications in 1992, 1997 and 2007. The Board required

Environmental Impact Memorandum August 29, 2024 Township of West Orange Page 4 brick pillars to be replaced periodically. The fence, which was originally sky blue, was repainted black in approximately 2007 as a requirement of site plan/variance approval. Photos of the fence in 2007 prior to the repainting are included as an addendum to this memo. Most importantly, the existing fence does not comply with electric utility industry standards for protection of substations and must be replaced. The existing fence does not meet the National Electric Safety Standards, which require 7-foot-high fencing, and does not meet PSE&G’s internal safety standards of 8-foot-high fencing. PSE&G has been upgrading fencing at all of our facilities for security and protection. Additional man-made features include PSE&G’s Marion Drive Substation and West Orange – Roseland Transmission Right-of-Way (ROW), consisting of monopole towers and overhead wires that traverses the linear portion of the site parcel to the northwest. 2.9 Miscellaneous Present and proposed noise levels are presented in the Acoustical Evaluation of Station Upgrades, transmitted to the Board on July 3, 2024. 3.0 Area and Regional Description The entire property falls within a total of three (3) zones: the O-R Office Research District encompasses the station yard and a portion of the transmission ROW, whereas further to the northwest the linear portion of the transmission line continues off-site through the adjoining Planned Unit Residential Development (PURD) Zone and R-5 Single Family Residential Zone. The project presented in our current application falls entirely in the Office Research (O-R) District. The Station is bound by office and retail businesses to the north, Mount Pleasant Avenue and a golf course to the south, Prospect Avenue, and commercial businesses, telecommunications and radio facilities to the east and office and medical facilities to the west. 4.0 Impact 4.1 Soil erosion and sedimentation resulting from surface runoff A soil erosion and sediment control plan has been submitted to the Hudson Essex Passaic Soil Conservation District. Work will not commence without the implementation of the approved plan to control soil erosion and sedimentation.

Environmental Impact Memorandum August 29, 2024 Township of West Orange Page 5 4.2 Flooding and floodplain disruption The Station is not located in a floodplain area. No impacts to flooding or floodplain disruption are anticipated. 4.3 Degradation of surface water quality No surface water bodies are present at the Station. Additionally, a soil erosion and sediment control plan will be implemented during construction, and therefore no degradation of water quality is anticipated. 4.4 Groundwater pollution Any electric equipment that contains insulating oil is equipped with oil containment systems. The Station has a spill prevention and countermeasure plan to prevent any groundwater pollution. 4.5 Sewage disposal There is no proposed increase in the number of bathrooms/toilets present on site. There are existing bathrooms in the control house. The 26kV yard will continue to be unmanned, with visits by approximately one (1) to two (2) maintenance vehicles biweekly. Therefore, no impacts on sewage disposal will occur as a result of the proposed project. 4.6 Solid waste disposal During construction, solid waste and construction debris will be managed in accordance with USEPA and NJDEP requirements. There will be no increase in solid waste disposal during the operation of the proposed 26kV yard. 4.7 Destruction of vegetation Upgrades to the station and replacement of the existing fence will result in the removal of 136 viable trees and 14 non-viable trees. PSE&G had originally proposed the replacement of 170 trees, which exceeded the required 167 trees required to be replaced in conformance with the tree ordinance that was in effect at the time of submission (May 15, 2024) and which governs PSE&G’s current application. As an updated ordinance was subsequently adopted as of June 10, 2024, the Landscaping Plan has been voluntarily updated to increase the total number of replacement trees to 317, 34 trees short of the required 351 trees. PSE&G will contribute to a Township Tree Fund for the remaining 34 trees. Tree plantings have been maximized given the amount of space available on the site, and PSE&G proposes to work with the Town Forester for additional considerations as a condition for approval.

Environmental Impact Memorandum August 29, 2024 Township of West Orange Page 6 New plantings, including tree replacements and other landscaping, will include evergreen tree species selected to provide year-round screening and texture and deciduous and ornamental tree species to supplement the existing deciduous tree cover. The proposed stormwater basins, required in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:8, will be vegetated with a low maintenance retention basin seed mix, including pollinator friendly species and shrub species to provide basin structure. Therefore, PSE&G complies with the recently- enacted tree ordinance. 4.8 Disruption of wildlife habitats A review of the NJ-GeoWeb Landscape Project 3.3 dataset suggests that the site does not contain any known presence of threatened or endangered species or their habitat. The vegetated areas are anticipated to provide habitat for certain common wildlife species that are well adapted to disturbed and suburban environments. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), groundhogs (Marmota monax), various songbirds, and other suburban-adapted species may be seasonally present on the site and may experience temporary displacement to nearby suburban areas during construction activities. Following construction and during the operational phase of the station yard, the vegetated portions of the site and newly landscaped areas, including the vegetated stormwater retention basins, will continue to provide habitat for common wildlife species that are adapted to human disturbance. 4.9 Destruction of scenic and historic features The Station is a man-made feature and is not included on the New Jersey or National Historic Register for Essex County. The condition of the existing Station fence was an issue in Zoning Board of Adjustment site plan/variance applications in 1992, 1997 and 2007. The deteriorating condition of the fence was noted in a customer complaint on July 12, 2022. 4.10 Air quality degradation As the Station does not generate electricity, there will be no impact on air quality during its operation. During the construction phase, emissions will occur from construction equipment and trucks hauling materials and equipment. Operators will be directed to turn off motors while the vehicles and equipment are not in use.