CONCORD, Mass. – Mildred Bowler and Jack Gillon are seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. in order to construct and retain a pier and do other work in Weymouth Back Bay at Back River Road in Weymouth, Mass.

The work involves constructing and retaining a 6-foot by 20-foot wooden pile and timber pier, a 20-foot long gangway with a 6-foot by 60-foot secured float. Float stops on the piles will keep the float at a minimum height of 2.5 feet mean low water (MLW). The pier will cross 13 linear feet of salt marsh. The bottom of the pier will be 5 to 7 feet above the surface of the marsh.

This structure will provide waterway access for two adjacent residence properties. The permit applicants have redesigned their project to avoid crossing a wider section of saltmarsh and to minimize the area of saltmarsh that will be shaded by the pier.

This project will impact 0.011 acre of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. This habitat consists of subtidal estuarine. 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. The public notice, with more specifics on the proposed work, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this work proposed by Mildred Bowler and Jack Gillon (file # NAE-2016-01773) should be forwarded no later than Sept. 8, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Phillip Nimeskern), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Phillip Nimeskern at 978-318-8660 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: phillip.w.nimeskern@usace.army.mil.