CONCORD, Mass. – The Insight Bridgewaye Inn, 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 retaining an existing fixed dock and floating docks and other work at its marina in Marshfield, Mass.

The work involves the retention of an existing fixed dock which was relocated downstream from its originally permitted location, the retention of approximately 4,500 square feet of pile-anchored floating docks which were located and reoriented from their previously permitted location, to extend the entire pile-anchored floating dock facility farther out into the waters of the South River and to create an existing reconfiguration perimeter around the facility.

The work is in the South River at the existing marina at this location just downstream of the Sea Street Bridge. The relocation of the marina farther into the waterway will allow the interior floating docks and the vessels moored to them to be in deeper water farther away from intertidal resource areas so the impacts to intertidal resource areas are minimized.

The project will impact approximately 4,500 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. This habitat consists of sand and gravel. Loss of this habitat may adversely affect spawning habitat for various species including winter flounder. However, the Corps has made a preliminary determination that the site-specific adverse effect of the existing docks and vessel usage of them during the summer boating season 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 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 work, can be viewed on the Corps website at:  www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments on this work (file #NAE-2006-860) should be forwarded no later than May 13, 2016 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.