CONCORD, Mass. – Tyler Deaton of 140 Northern Avenue, LLC is 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 the development of Pier 4 into a multi-use waterfront site in Boston Harbor in Boston, Mass.
The proposed project includes fill, work, and structures below the high tide line of waters of the U.S. in order to develop Pier 4 into a multi-use waterfront site for residential, retail, restaurant and public open space usage.
The applicant proposes the following work, structures and fill on the west side of Pier 4: the demolition and removal of the existing deteriorated timber pile-supported piers; the removal of existing riprap as required for the installation of the new riprap revetment protection; repair of the existing stone wall utilizing the existing retained stone; the installation of a concrete foundation wall and cap stone along the line of the historic granite block seawall; construction of riprap protection seaward of the repaired stone wall by placing toe stones, filter fabric, filter stones and riprap; and construction of pile-supported sea steps, decking, and piers that will extend the same distance over Boston Harbor as the current timber pile-supported piers to be removed.
The applicant proposes the following work and structures on the north side of Pier 4: construction of a pile-supported pier that will extend 40 feet over Boston Harbor where no pier structures current exist.
The project as proposed will result in 10,136 square feet of new fill, 10,176 square feet of new pile-supported structures, and the installation of eighty new 14-inch steel piles.
The proposed project will impact 0.34 acre of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. This habitat consists of rocky intertidal shore and subtidal areas. Loss of this rocky intertidal and subtidal 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 the final permit decision.
The application for the federal permit was 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 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 140 Northern Avenue LLC, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments on this work proposed by 140 Northern Avenue, LLC (file # NAE-2002-2261) should be forwarded no later than April 7, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Christine Jacek), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Christine Jacek at 978-318-8026 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: christine.m.jacek@usace.army.mil.