CONCORD, Mass. – The Quonset Development Corporation 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 installing a pile-supported pier extension in the Port of Davisville (Narragansett Bay) at 95 Cripe Street in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
The proposed work involves installing a pile-supported pier extension at the northeast corner of Pier 2, as well as removing and replacing the existing pier wall with a new sheet pile wall system, in front of the existing cellular cofferdam. The new sheet pile wall system will replace the current wall. The sheet pile wall system will be set approximately 7 feet outward of the existing wall, and the sealed off void will be back filled with concrete resulting in 15,800 square feet of fill.
The temporary work area will extend out approximately 42 feet from the existing wall, and 10 feet to 15 feet from the footprint of the new pier extension. The new pier will be supported by 24-inch closed end steel pipe-piles and will measure 124 feet by 232 feet (28,000 square feet) which will allow Roll-On/Roll-Off cargo vessels to be received, and will create an additional full-berth to the Port of Davisville.
Repairs are necessary to support and maintain current operations in the Port of Davisville and allow for future growth. A turbidity curtain will be installed around Pier 2 prior to all work taking place. All fill will be placed below the high tide line, and all structures will extend beyond the mean high water.
The proposed project will impact 0.36 acre of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). This habitat consists of silt and sand substrate. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect species that use these waters and substrate. 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 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 work proposed by the Quonset Development Corporation, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments on this work proposed by the Quonset Development Corporation (file # NAE-2017-01238) should be forwarded no later than Feb. 13, 2018 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Mr. Taylor Bell), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Taylor Bell at 978-318-8952 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: taylor.m.bell@usace.army.mil.