CONCORD, Mass. – Lend Lease Development, Inc. is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to impact waters of the U.S. in conjunction with dredging and doing other work in the Boston Inner Harbor in East Boston, Mass.
The proposed work involves the removal of existing pile fields and piers, dredging, stabilization of seawalls through the placing of rip rap, creation of new seawalls, installing an overlook pier and floating dock system, placing four stormwater drain outfalls and associated splash pads, and the creation of a living shoreline that will include the construction of a wetland, a kayak ramp, and a small rocky beach. Impacts to waters of the U.S. will total 63,071 square feet of subtidal and intertidal area.
This work is proposed in Boston Inner Harbor at 25-65 Lewis Street in East Boson.
The proposed project will impact 1.44 acres of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. This habitat consists of intertidal and subtidal areas consisting of coarse materials including man-made rubble, rock, brick, concrete, slag, and coarse sand. 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 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands; and 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.
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 the work proposed by Lend Lease Development, Inc. (file #NAE-2004-525) should be forwarded no later than Nov. 13, 2015 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Christine Renzoni), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Christine Renzoni at 978-318-8026 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: christine.m.renzoni@usace.army.mil.