CONCORD, Mass. – The Massachusetts Department of Public Works 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 repairing Shepard Pond Dam in Canton, Mass.

The proposed work includes conducting repairs to an existing dam that consists of an earth and retained earth embankment with a concrete and mortared-boulder spillway near the right abutment that releases into Massapoag Brook. Currently, Shepard Pond Dam is structurally deficient and in poor condition. Repairs and improvements include redesigning the spillway, construction of a new low level outlet, reconstructing the embankment, grout curtain embankment areas, and miscellaneous work.

The work will involve the discharge of 9,700 square feet of materials; however, there will be no net gain of fill area as 9,700 square feet of area will need to be excavated/dredged. Temporary impacts will be 4.1 to 4.3 acres due to dewatering the pond for the construction of the low water outlet.

The dam is located at the northeast end of Shepard Pond, just west of Washington Street in Canton. This work will allow the pond to return to its historic water elevation.

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 can be viewed on the Corps website at 

http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on the proposed work by the Massachusetts Department of Public Works (file # NAE-2007-02427) should be forwarded no later than Aug. 22, 2013 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Richard Kristoff), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Richard Kristoff at 978-318-8171 or by email to: richard.c.kristoff@usace.army.mil.