CONCORD, Mass. – Yarde Realty Company is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the U. S. in conjunction with constructing a commercial marina and retaining fill material along the East River in Madison, Conn.

The proposed project includes the retention of fill material and work in navigable waters for the construction of a 45-slip commercial marina constructed in two sections along the eastern shore of the East River. The line of slips will extend a maximum of 50 feet beyond mean high water (MHW).

The work is proposed in the East River at 4 Boston Post Road in Madison. The applicant has agreed to provide a contribution to the Connecticut In-Lieu Fee program to compensate for the 2,100-square-feet of fill material placed below the high tide line.

The project will impact approximately 0.3 acre of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. 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.

The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps of Engineers 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 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge for fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. 

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.

Public comments on this proposed work by Yarde Realty Company (file #NAE-2011-1879) should be forwarded no later than June 27, 2014 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Lindsay Flieger), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA  01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Lindsay Flieger at 978-318-8656 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: lindsay.flieger@usace.army.mil.