CONCORD, Mass. – Applicant Ms. Jo-Ann Albanese is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U.S. for a mooring structure in the Mill Cove area of Wickford Harbor in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
The purpose of the project is for a new private, non-commercial, non-rental, single-boat mooring. The proposed mooring (Latitude 41.58018°N Longitude -71.450636°W) is located 86 feet outside of the federal anchorage boundary. The proposed mooring structure consists of the following: 500-pound mushroom mooring or train wheel, 3/4 inch bottom shackle, 20 feet of 3/4 inch bottom chain, 5/8 inch middle shackle, 25 feet of 1/2 inch top chain, 5/8 inch top chain shackle, 5/8 inch swivel, 5/8 inch through ball shackle, 3 feet of 1/2 inch through ball chain, 12 inch sur-moor buoy, 5/8 inch pendant shackle, 7/8 inch by 12 foot nylon braid pendant, mooring pennant, and pick-up buoy. The length of the chain would be adjusted by installers dependent upon water depth at high tide.
The alternate location 1 (41.58012°N, -71.450985°W) is located within a federal anchorage. The alternative location 2 (41.57671°N, -71.442949°W) is located 519 feet outside of the federal anchorage. The Corps is soliciting public comments on all three of these locations.
Either of the 3 sites would impact approximately 80 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The Corps has made a preliminary determination that the proposed project will not adversely affect fish or fish habitat. 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 the proposed work (file # NAE-2016-02556) should be forwarded no later than Sept. 29, 2017 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Alex Kostra), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Alex Kostra at 978-318-8651 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: alexander.a.kostra@usace.army.mil.