CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District has received separate permit applications to conduct work in waters of the U.S. from a number of private owners along the Manchester Inner Harbor as well as permit applications by two marinas and the Town to dredge and retain some structures in Manchester Harbor in Manchester, Mass.
The applicants who are the subject of this notice are Ledyard McFadden (file no. NAE 2013-2022) at 4 Ashland Avenue; Martin Hahn (file no. NAE 2009-1173) at 18 Bridge Street; and David Crosby (file no. NAE 2009-1173) at 22 Bridge Street, all in Manchester. The work, including dredging, is proposed in the Manchester Inner Harbor at the addresses listed above. Mr. Hahn and Mr. Crosby are abutters who are applying jointly for a single pier and dredging area.
The dredged material will be disposed of in the ocean at the Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site (MBDS), located 12 nautical miles southeast of Gales Point, Mass.
The work at the McFadden property involves the retention of an unauthorized existing seasonal residential floating dock totaling approximately 672 square feet, now resting partially on intertidal habitat on timber skids and the new and maintenance dredging of approximately 1,460 square feet of intertidal habitat and 3,851 square feet of subtidal habitat to a depth of – 5 feet mean low water for vessel access to the dock. The total amount of material to be dredged is approximately 565 cubic yards.
The work at the Hahn-Crosby site similarly involves the retention of an unauthorized seasonal residential floating dock totaling approximately 432 square feet, now resting partially on intertidal habitat and the new and maintenance dredging of approximately 1,256 square feet of intertidal habitat and 983 square feet of subtidal habitat for vessel access to the dock. The total amount of material to be dredged is approximately 309 cubic yards. The material to be dredged consists of silt and sand and the material has been determined, by the Corps and EPA, to be suitable for unconfined ocean disposal at the MBDS.
Dredging of these projects will impact approximately 7,550 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. Habitat at these sites can be described as intertidal and subtidal sand and silt. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect prey species during dredging, but the area is likely to recolonize quickly so any loss will be temporary. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect winter flounder. 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 the final permit decision.
The applications for federal permits were filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which provides for federal regulation of any work in, or affecting navigable waters of the U.S.; and with Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, which regulates the transportation of dredged material for the purpose of ocean disposal. The public notice, with more specifics on the proposed work, can be viewed on the Corps website at: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments on these proposals (file #NAE-2009-1173 and file #NAE-2013-2022) should be forwarded no later than Sept. 11, 2015 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Brian Valiton), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Brian Valiton at 978-318-8166 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling
from within Massachusetts) or by email to: brian.e.valiton@usace.army.mil.