CONCORD, Mass. – Four Season Farms, LLC is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to impact waters of the U.S. in conjunction with constructing hydroponic greenhouses in Suffield, Conn.

The proposed work involves the construction of approximately 45-acres of hydroponic greenhouses and support buildings on a 94-acre site in Suffield. The work is proposed in non-tidal wetlands and unnamed tributaries of Stony Brook at a parcel of land between Poole Road and Hale Street in Suffield.

The proposed project includes the construction and operation of approximately 43-acres of hydroponic greenhouses for growing tomatoes and 2.25 acres of support buildings. The project will enclose the agricultural activity within a climate-controlled greenhouse and utilize a sophisticated irrigation/nutrient application system that recycles the irrigation water.

The project will unavoidably impact approximately 3 acres of previously disturbed wetlands over the 94-acre site. The project proponents propose to mitigate for unavoidable impacts through the permanent preservation of approximately 55-acres of undeveloped forested land adjacent to the site; restore approximately 4 acres of currently open disturbed floodplain bordering Stony Brook by planting floodplain forest species; and the relocation of intermittent stream flow and the creation of storm water wetlands to improve storm water runoff from the site.

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 can be viewed on the Corps website at: www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on the work proposed by Four Season Farms, LLC (file #NAE-2016-00075) should be forwarded no later than Dec. 29, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Michael Wierbonics), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA  01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Michael Wierbonics at 978-318-8723 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: michael.s.wierbonics@usace.army.mil.