CONCORD, Mass. – The Maine Department of Transportation 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 stone fill to stabilize an eroding bank adjacent to Route 149 in Phillips, Maine.
The Maine Department of Transportation proposes to place stone riprap fill below the ordinary high water line of an unnamed overflow channel of the Sandy River in Phillips in order to stabilize approximately 80 linear feet of eroding bank adjacent to Route 149. Approximately 100 cubic yards of riprap will be placed along the eroding bank and at an existing culvert located just to the east. Approximately 20 cubic yards of riprap will be placed below the ordinary high water line. Dewatering the work site will require the installation of temporary sandbag cofferdams. The project will result in approximately 240 square feet of permanent stream bed impact and 500 square feet of temporary stream bed impact.
This proposed work may impact Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for Atlantic salmon. This habitat consists of stream bottom composed of mixed sand, gravel, cobble and boulders. Long-term impact to this species is expected to be minimal with appropriate erosion control measures, in stream work windows, and other best management practices. Therefore, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the site-specific adverse effect will be minimal. Further consultation with the federal resource agencies regarding EFH conservation recommendations is being conducted and will be concluded prior to the final permit decision. Similarly, consultation will be initiated regarding the presence of salmon as they are a federally listed endangered species.
The Corps is soliciting comments from the public; federal, state and local agencies and officials; Indian Tribes; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposal.
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 at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments referencing this permit request by the Maine Department of Transportation (File # NAE-2013-01700) should be forwarded no later than June 6, 2014 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.