CONCORD, Mass. – The Coastal Property Owner’s Association is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the United States in conjunction with placing dredged sand to support a coastal dune on Plum Island in Newbury, Mass.

The Coastal Property Owner’s Association is proposing to perform work and discharge dredged material below the high tide line (HTL) of waters of the U.S. in order to bulldoze sand from the intertidal zone and place it in front of the coastal dune that exists just above the high tide line at Plum Island Beach in Newbury.

This activity is referred to as beach scraping. The area being reviewed under this action is the area directly in front of 1 Southern Boulevard and 25 and 27 Annapolis Way in Newbury. The area below the high tide line where beach scraping is proposed is approximately 35,000 square feet. Sand would be bulldozed in layers not to exceed 2 feet. The three properties listed have been identified by the Newbury Building Commissioner as in danger of losing occupancy permits due to erosion of the coastal dune in front of their properties.

The purpose of the project is storm protection. The permit would be valid for a one-time beach scraping event only. Future beach scraping proposals will require a permit reauthorization. The Corps issued a permit for beach scraping in front of the adjacent properties at 29, 31, 35, 37 and 39 Annapolis Way in September 2012. It is intended to perform beach scraping in front of all eight properties during one beach scraping event.

The application for the federal permit was filed by the Coastal Property Owner’s Association with the Corps of Engineers in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in United States waters, including wetlands; and with Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, which provides for federal regulation of any work in, or affecting navigable waters of the United States.

The public notice, with more specifics on the proposed work, can be viewed on the Corps website at  http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Regulatory/Public%20Notices/.

Public comments on this work proposed by the Coastal Property Owner’s Association (file # NAE-2008-3213) should be forwarded no later than Nov. 6, 2012 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Kevin Kotelly), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Kevin Kotelly at 978-318-8703 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: kevin.r.kotelly@usace.army.mil.