CONCORD, Mass. – Jay M. Cashman of Quincy Shipyard, LLC, has revised plans in seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. to expand and modify the dredging footprint to Pier 1 in the Quincy Shipyard in Quincy, Mass. This work is proposed in the Fore River at 549 South Street in Quincy. A notice was issued on May 16, 2017 for the proposed work at Quincy Shipyard but those plans have changed and a new notice is being distributed with the revised plans.

The proposed work involves the expansion and modification to the authorized dredging footprint at and adjacent to Pier 1 in the Quincy Shipyard in order to create a turning basin to accommodate the turning radius of larger vessels. The applicant originally proposed to dredge approximately 4,500 cubic yards of silty material from approximately 1.50 acres of subtidal habitat in the Fore River to a depth of -31 feet mean low water (MLW) from existing depths ranging from -27 feet MLW to -31 feet MLW.

The applicant is proposing to reduce the originally proposed footprint in the Fore River; however, they are adding a second dredge area to the project. This new dredge area is located at the end of Pier 1 and increases the proximity of the turning basin to within 400 feet of the Fore River Bridge. The applicant is proposing to dredge approximately 2,300 cubic yards of silty material from a 32,200-square-foot area within the previously proposed dredge area. Additionally, the applicant is proposing to dredge approximately 1,720 cubic yards of silty material from the newly proposed 10,100-square-foot area. Dredging will increase water depths from existing depths of -27 feet MLW to -31 feet MLW to approximately -31 feet MLW. The new dredging proposal reduces the project's total footprint from approximately 1.5 acres to 0.97 acres.

As before, dredging will be completed by mechanical means using a clamshell bucket dredge with a 27 cable arm environmental bucket. The dredged material will be loaded onto scows that will be moored within the dredging site where the material within the scows will be allowed to settle for a minimum of 24 hours to allow for the fine material to drop out of suspension. Once the material has settled, the excess standing water will be decanted and returned to the project waters. The dredged material will be offloaded from the scows and placed at a stockpile within the Quincy Shipyard before being transported to the Peabody Landfill to be used as cover.

Activities must be designed and constructed to avoid and minimize adverse effects both temporary and permanent, to waters of the U.S. to the maximum extent practicable at the project site. Mitigation in all of its forms (avoiding, minimizing, rectifying, reducing, or compensating for resource losses) is required to the extent necessary to ensure that the adverse effect to the aquatic environment are no more than minimal.

The applicant has proposed to minimize impacts to the Fore River and fisheries resources within the area by employing the following measures and best management practices: dredging will be conducted with an environmental bucket in order to reduce the amount spill back of sediment into the Fore River; deploying a turbidity curtain to minimize the migration of suspended particles; maintaining a slow dredge speed to minimize suspension of sediment; and employing a trained Endangered Species Observer.

Dredging will impact approximately 0.97 acre of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. Habitat at this site can be described as subtidal silt. 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 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 proposed revised work by Jay M. Cashman of Quincy Shipyard, LLC, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this revised work proposed by Jay M. Cashman of Quincy Shipyard, LLC, (file # NAE-2011-00212) should be forwarded no later than June 29, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Joshua Helms), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Joshua Helms at 978-318-8211 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: joshua.m.helms@usace.army.mil.