CONCORD, Mass. – The Piscataquis County Commissioners are seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. in conjunction with stabilizing Williamsburg Road Bridge in Williamsburg Township, Maine. The applicant proposes to place temporary and permanent fill material below the ordinary high water line of Whetstone Brook in Williamsburg Township in order to remediate ongoing scouring of the substructure of the Williamsburg Road Bridge. The proposed in-water work window is July 15 to Sept. 30.

Proposed work will include construction of upstream and downstream sandbag cofferdams as well as a pumping system to divert water around the project area. A second pumping system will remove water from within the cofferdams. Once water is diverted from the work area and the area dewatered, contractors will excavate stream bed materials from around the footings and then install partially grouted riprap to within 6 inches of the streambed elevation. Excavated stream bed materials supplemented with native rocks and boulders will be used as backfill over the riprap to match natural stream bed elevations. The proposed work will result in approximately 590 square feet of instream impacts. Standard erosion controls will be installed and maintained throughout construction. This work is designed to stabilize critical transportation infrastructure, ensure public safety, and protect the economic vitality of the local transportation network.

In-water construction at the site will impact Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for Atlantic salmon. This habitat consists of stream bed composed of cobbles and boulders interspersed with smaller stones, silt, sand and gravel. The Corps has made a preliminary determination that the site-specific adverse effect will not be substantial.  Any consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding EFH conservation recommendations will be concluded prior to the final permit decision.

The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice, with more specifics on the work proposed by the Piscataquis County Commissioners, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this work proposed by the Piscataquis County Commissioners (file # NAE-2017-00187) should be forwarded no later than May 22, 2018 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Jay Clement), 442 Civic Center Drive, Suite 350, Augusta, Maine, 04330. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Jay Clement at 207-623-8367, ext. 1 or by email to: jay.l.clement@usace.army.mil.