CONCORD, Mass. – New Yard, LLC, of Portland, Maine, 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 developing a new boat repair facility in Portland, Maine.
New Yard, LLC, proposes to place fill material below the high tide line and perform excavation and other work beyond the mean high water line of the Fore River in Portland to develop a new boat and ship repair and maintenance facility. Regulated activities include placement of stone riprap along the shore to provide bank stabilization, installation of two concrete boat ramps, excavation and dredging with upland disposal, rehabilitation of former pier pilings and installing new pilings to secure a new float system running parallel with the shore, and installation of a travel lift. The upland property, a former industrial site, will be cleaned up and regraded to allow for a number of support buildings and associated infrastructure.
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 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 proposed project will potentially impact 28,402 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. This habitat consists of intertidal and sub-tidal bottom composed of sand, gravel, cobble, and industrial debris. The proposed project is expected to have both short-term and long-term impacts on marine resources. However, this habitat has been degraded from the heavy industrial use of the shoreline in the past. Based upon this assessment of impacts to EFH, 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 Essential Fish Habitat conservation recommendations is being conducted and will be concluded prior to the final permit decision.
The public notice, with additional information, can be viewed on the Corps website at
http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments referencing this permit request by New Yard, LLC, (File # NAE-2012-02469) should be forwarded no later than April 4, 2013 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Jay Clement), 675 Western Ave., #3, Manchester, Maine 04351. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Jay Clement at 207-623-8367 or by email to jay.l.clement@usace.army.mil.