CONCORD, Mass. – Fairhaven Shipyard Companies, Inc., is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. to increase the upland service area of an existing commercial shipyard in New Bedford Harbor (Acushnet River) at 32 Water Street in Fairhaven, Mass.
The proposed project consists of: (1) removal of existing 24- by 24-foot floating dock and associated gangway, (2) installation of 8 H-shaped steel pin piles for sheet panel template, (3) installation of 400 linear feet of 20-inch wide steel sheet piles, and (4) placement of 11,135 square feet of fill below the high tide line. The project purpose is to increase the upland service area of an existing commercial shipyard in New Bedford Harbor. The sheet piles and fill will extend up to 77 feet from the mean high water line (MHWL). Construction is anticipated to occur over a 4- to 6-month period and will be accomplished from a barge and land based equipment.
The applicant proposes that project impacts have been minimized to the extent possible, impacting the minimum area of tidal waters in order to provide upland work space for 3 vessels to maintain operations of the existing commercial shipyard. Avoidance of impacts for the creation of upland service bays off-site is not possible due to restricted marine services area (no availability of upland area to construct service bays). Appropriate sediment and turbidity controls will be utilized.
This project may impact 10,032 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. Habitat at this site is mostly fine-grained sand with some shellfish possible. No submerged aquatic vegetation or other special aquatic resources are present. The proposed project will result in the loss of intertidal and subtidal waters from the proposed creation of upland service bays. The proposed project may adversely impact EFH. The Corps has initiated individual, abbreviated consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service for potential impacts to EFH. Consultation will be concluded prior to the issuance of a final Corps 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 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, with more specifics on the proposed work by Fairhaven Shipyard Companies, Inc., can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments on this work proposed by Fairhaven Shipyard Companies, Inc. (file # NAE-2009-02719) should be forwarded no later than Aug. 2, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Sarah Wilkinson), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Sarah Wilkinson at 978-318-8513 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: sarah.a.wilkinson@usace.army.mil.