CONCORD, Mass. – The town of Bennington 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 removing a dam, protecting a water main, and stabilizing a riverbank in Bennington, Vermont.

The town of Bennington proposes to place fill material in the Walloomsac River in conjunction with the removal of the Henry Bridge Dam, protection of an existing water main, and stabilization of the riverbank. This work is proposed in the Walloomsac River about 100 feet upstream of the Henry Bridge which connects River Road and Murphy Road on the Bennington/North Bennington town line.

The existing dam structure consists of a deteriorating timber crib spillway, two concrete abutments, and a low level outlet. Dam removal is proposed to eliminate the public safety hazard posed by the deteriorating structure and to restore this reach of the Walloomsac River to its historic free-flowing condition.

In addition, about 65 linear feet of the right bank of the river at the Henry Bridge will be reinforced with 130 cubic yards of angular rock rip rap to ensure the post-dam removal channel profile does not undermine the bridge.

The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance 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 detailed information, can be viewed on the Corps website at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.

Public comments on this proposal by the town of Bennington (File # NAE-2012-2630) should be forwarded no later than March 28, 2013 to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Vermont Project Office (ATTN: Angela Repella), 8 Carmichael Street, Suite 205, Essex Junction, Vermont 05452. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Angela Repella at 802-872-2893 or by email to angela.c.repella@usace.army.mil.