CONCORD, Mass. – Suffield Academy 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 repairing the Stiles Road Bridge in Suffield, Conn.

The proposed project involves the discharge of fill material of 728 square feet for permanent impacts and 996 square feet for temporary impacts (for a cofferdam) below the ordinary high water mark of Muddy Brook and in its adjacent wetlands, due to repair work on the Stiles Road Bridge, including wing wall extensions and regrading of the banks of the Muddy Brook. Based on observations made during an April 2011 inspection, scour damage and erosion due to the stream overtopping the embankments was observed at the northeast, northwest, and southeast wing walls, and erosion along the embankments adjacent to the bridge also was observed.

This project will address the problems identified during the inspection. Construction is anticipated to take approximately six weeks, though in stream activities should be completed within two weeks. The applicant proposes to clear vegetation adjacent to the bridge, regrade the areas along the northeast, northwest, and southwest wing walls, and install compacted granular fill and modified riprap along the toe of slope and part way up the embankment. A water quality certification was received by the Corps from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for this project.   

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 detailed information, can be viewed on the Corps website at http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this project proposed by the Suffield Academy (File # NAE-2014-445) should be forwarded no later than April 7, 2015 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Barbara Newman), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Barbara Newman at 978-318-8515 or email barbara.h.newman@usace.army.mil.