CONCORD, Mass. – The city of Boston Public Works Department 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 work to remove the Northern Avenue Bridge in the Fort Point Channel of Boston Harbor at Northern Avenue in Boston, and with work on the Chelsea River at 338 East Eagle Street in East Boston, Mass. The proposal involves work, structures, and fill below the high tide line of waters of the U.S. at two separate sites in Boston.

Northern Avenue Bridge Site: The existing Northern Avenue Bridge is proposed to be removed. The city of Boston proposes to remove the bridge superstructure in sections and float the sections intact via barge to a city of Boston-owned property in East Boston. Approximately 14 piles will be placed to anchor a proposed floating fender system which will surround the work area. The work also includes the removal of an existing submarine cable from the channel bed in Fort Point Channel. The excavation of the cable would impact approximately 720 square feet of the channel bottom and require the removal of approximately 960 cubic feet of material.

East Boston Site: The removed bridge sections would be floated intact to a city-owned storage yard at 338 East Eagle Street in East Boston, on the Chelsea River. A temporary ramp and trestle system is proposed to be constructed in the Chelsea River to offload the bridge at the storage yard. The trestle would be 118 feet wide by 100 feet long and supported by approximately 36, 24-inch diameter pipe piles. The ramp would be 118 feet wide by 85 feet long. The ramp and trestle would be constructed of steel beams and plates with timber matting at the surface. Temporary impacts to 69,698 square feet of mud flats associated with the installation of the ramp and trestle are proposed. Pile driving and the use of barges, anchors, and other equipment in the intertidal area during construction of the trestle system would contribute to temporary impacts.

The project has been designed to avoid and minimize impacts to aquatic resources. Impacts to waters of the U.S. would be temporary. The project would impact approximately 1.6 acres of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. This habitat consists of subtidal silt and sand and mudflat. 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 public notice, with more specifics on the work proposed by the city of Boston Public Works Department, can be viewed on the Corps website at:  www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

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 Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands.

Public comments on this work proposed by the city of Boston Public Works Department (file # NAE-2015-02009) should be forwarded no later than March 1, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Kevin Kotelly), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Kevin Kotelly at 978-318-8703 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: kevin.r.kotelly@usace.army.mil.