CONCORD, Mass. – Charlestown Marina LLC 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 rebuilding, expanding and retaining a commercial marina in Charlestown, Mass.
The applicant proposes to rebuild, expand and retain a commercial marina at Pier 6 in the former Charlestown Navy Yard. The work involves constructing new, pile-supported dock systems on both sides of Pier 6. Each system will consist of 2 floats positioned parallel to the pier with 5 T-floats with finger floats attached perpendicular to the parallel floats. Three pile and timber access landings, with a total area of 879 square feet, will be built onto the pier to allow gangway access to the dock systems. A 10-foot by 100-foot float will be installed at the landward end of the southern side of the pier. The proposed floating dock layout will have a total area of approximately 27,500 square feet.
Work will include an 8-foot wide by 410-foot long, 3,280 square foot, fixed pile and timber deck onto the south side of the existing Pier 6 to provide a public harbor walk. It also will establish a reconfiguration zone around the dock systems for a total of 4,368 linear footage. This will provide 107 slips and 888 linear footage for boat tie-ups. The total number of vessels will be 132.
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. 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.
The project will impact approximately 3.6 acres of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. This habitat consists of subtidal silty mud. 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.
Public comments on work proposed by Charlestown Marina LLC (file #NAE-2015-01050) should be forwarded no later than Nov. 26, 2015 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Phillip Nimeskern), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Phillip Nimeskern at 978-318-8660 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: phillip.w.nimeskern@usace.army.mil.