CONCORD, Mass. – Brewer Hawthorne Cove Marina (BHCM, Inc.) 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 dredging and disposal of dredge material for its marina in Salem Harbor in Salem, Mass. The proposed project includes maintenance dredging within the historical limits of the marina, disposal of the dredged material in the ocean, and the establishment of a zone of reconfiguration around the existing permitted docks. The work is proposed in Salem Harbor, south of the Salem Wharf. The marina is located at 10 White Street in Salem.
Specific work includes dredging of a sub-tidal area of approximately 262,200 square feet to a maximum depth of – 7 feet mean lower water and dredging of an intertidal area of approximately 3,000 square feet. The estimated volume of dredge material is 30,000 cubic yards. Disposal of the dredged material will be at the Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site, located 12 nautical miles southeast of Gales Point, Mass.
The dredging portion of the project will adversely impact approximately 262,200 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. Habitat at this site can be described as subtidal silt and sand and 3,000 square feet of intertidal silt and sand. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect winter flounder. However, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the site-specific impacts will not be substantial. An expanded EFH assessment has been submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service, who in turn will provide conservation recommendations to the Corps. The Corps will coordinate with the applicant regarding implementation of these recommendations. The EFH consultation 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 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, which regulates the transportation of dredged material for the purpose of ocean disposal. 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 proposal (file #NAE-2011-750) should be forwarded no later than Aug. 21, 2015 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Brian Valiton), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Brian Valiton at 978-318-8166 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: brian.e.valiton@usace.army.mil.