CONCORD, Mass. – The town of Dartmouth 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 reconstructing the Dartmouth Maritime Center in Dartmouth, Mass. This work is proposed in Apponagansett Bay at 0 Water Street in Dartmouth.

The proposed work involves reconstructing the Dartmouth Maritime Center by performing the following work: constructing and maintaining a 545-square-foot pile-supported deck/landing area over an intertidal area and an 8-foot by 45-foot long (360-square-foot) pile and timber pier over a subtidal area. The deck will have ten 12-inch diameter wooden piles and the pier will have twelve 12-inch diameter wooden piles.

Work will include constructing and maintaining a 4-foot by 40-foot gangway ramp supported by a four 12-inch diameter pile hoist system over the subtidal area; and removing existing float system and replacing it with three 8-foot by 30-foot floating docks with a total area of 720 square feet. These will be supported by three 12-inch diameter timber pile guides. The construction drawing will have notes for the contractor to ensure the minimum clearance of 2 feet off the bottom or to install float stops /chains as required. Work also will include reconstructing the dinghy launch area by installing MOBI-Mat Liners on 1,250 square feet of intertidal area below the HTL. The mats will be seasonally installed and removed.

This project will impact 0.074 acre of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). This habitat consists of intertidal fill and unconsolidated sediment. 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. The public notice, with more specifics on the work proposed by town of Dartmouth, can be viewed on the Corps website at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this work proposed by town of Dartmouth (file # NAE-2017-02375) should be forwarded no later than March 8, 2018 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.