CONCORD, Mass. – The Hampton Harbor Marina is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the United States in conjunction with dredging and disposing of the dredged material in Hampton, New Hampshire.

The Hampton Harbor Marina is proposing to dredge by mechanical means approximately 250,000 square feet of subtidal bottom in Hampton Harbor to a depth of -7 feet mean lower low water (MLLW) leading into and within an existing commercial marina and dispose of the resulting dredged material (approximately 30,000 cubic yards) at one or more of several alternative locations including Hampton Beach State Park and Sun Valley Beach behind the half tide jetty in Hampton. Some of the dredged material, which is not suitable for beach nourishment, will be disposed of at an upland location not in waters or wetlands.

The dredging work is proposed in the Hampton River estuary on the east side of the river, just upstream of the state recreational anchorage and within the inner and outer docking facilities of the marina. The marina is located at the west end of Fellows Avenue in Hampton.

The dredging portion of this project will impact approximately 250,000 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. Habitat at this site can be described as subtidal sand bottom within an existing marina facility and access channel leading from the state anchorage into the marina. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect these species. However, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the site-specific adverse effect will not be substantial. Further consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding EFH conservation recommendations is being conducted and will be concluded prior to a final permit decision.

The application for the federal permit was filed by Hampton Harbor Marina 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; and with Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which provides for federal regulation of any work in, or affecting navigable waters of the United States. The public notice can be viewed on the Corps website at  http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Regulatory/Public%20Notices/.

Public comments on this proposed work by Hampton Harbor Marina (file # NAE-2008-2329) should be forwarded no later than Oct. 4, 2012 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Richard Roach), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Richard Roach at 978-318-8211 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: richard.a.roach@usace.army.mil.