CONCORD, Mass. – Three Bays Preservation, Inc./Mass Audubon Society, Inc. are 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 in Nantucket Sound and Cotuit Bay and placing sand on Dead Neck Sampson’s Island in Osterville, Mass.
The proposed work involves the dredging of 133,600 cubic yards of clean sand from a 218,400-square-foot area to a depth of -8 feet below mean low water (MLW). The dredged material will be used as follows: 1) 102,200 cubic yards of sand over a 300,010-square-foot area will be used for beach nourishment at the eastern end of Dead Neck Sampson’s Island; 2) 20,000 cubic yards for dune restoration over a 30,000- square-foot area; and 3) 11,400 cubic yards to enhance and restore specific habitat restoration at various locations on Dead Neck Sampson’s Island.
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.
The dredging portion of this project will impact approximately 218,400 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. 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 the work proposed by Three Bays Preservation, Inc./Mass Audubon Society, Inc. (file #NAE-2013-2073) should be forwarded no later than Nov. 26, 2015 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Crystal Gardner), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Crystal Gardner at 978-318-8332 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: crystal.i.gardner@usace.army.mil.