CONCORD, Mass. – The Sprite Island Yacht Club 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 retaining and maintaining an existing 24-acre seasonal mooring field in East Norwalk, Conn.
Sprite Island Yacht Club is seeking formal authorization for an existing 24-acre seasonal mooring field, which includes up to 85 moorings in Long Island Sound, immediately west of Sprite Island in East Norwalk. The applicant has previously maintained a yacht club and mooring field at this location for recreational boating purposes since 1970. The mooring field, however, as it has been configured since 2008, has not been authorized.
In addition to the proposed mooring field, the project will also include the retention of piers, floating docks, and ramps. The work is proposed in Long Island Sound approximately 0.20 miles offshore from Shorehaven Road in East Norwalk.
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 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/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
The project will impact approximately 25 acres of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect these species. 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.
Public comments on this proposal by the Sprite Island Yacht Club (file # NAE-2011-2330) should be forwarded no later than April 5, 2013 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Michael Riccio), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Michael Riccio at 978-318-8685 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: michael.s.riccio@usace.army.mil.