CONCORD, Mass. – Seaview Bridgeport, LLC 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 boat ramp, floats and doing other work in Bridgeport, Conn.
The proposed project includes the construction of a boat ramp (approximately 35 feet wide by 205.7 feet long), floating docks, a public access fishing pier, a 25-foot wide walkway for public access within the upland area, the discharge of fill material within tidal wetlands as well as site-wide to both contain and render inaccessible contaminated soils and raise the elevation of the site to flood standards.
The proposed facilities will provide access and day use by recreational fishermen, boaters and commercial shell-fishermen and also will include boat storage for the Bass Pro Store currently under construction nearby.
The work is proposed in Yellow Mill River/Long Island Sound at 837 Seaview Avenue/Stratford Avenue in Bridgeport.
The project will impact approximately 0.2 acre of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. The habitat consists of silty sand and tidal vegetation. 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.
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 U.S.; and 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, 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 Seaview Bridgeport, LLC (file #NAE-2014-2468) should be forwarded no later than Feb. 13, 2015 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Diane Ray), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Diane Ray at 978-318-8831 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: diane.m.ray@usace.army.mil.