CONCORD, Mass. – The Maine Department of Transportation 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 removing a bridge in Whitefield, Maine.

The Maine Department of Transportation proposes to place temporary fill below the ordinary high water line of the West Branch of the Sheepscot River in Whitefield in order to permanently remove the existing deteriorated Howe Road Bridge (Northy Bridge).

Approximately 2,900 square feet of river bed will be temporarily impacted as cofferdams are installed in phases to facilitate removal operations. Bridge removal will include complete removal of the bridge superstructure, abutments, approach fill, and the in-stream pier. The project will restore natural stream channel width and recreate vegetated stream banks, thereby restoring Atlantic salmon habitat. The bridge is currently closed to traffic and will remain so.

The application for the federal permit was filed by the Maine Department of Transportation with the Corps of Engineers in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in U.S. waters, including wetlands. The public notice can be viewed at www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

Public comments referencing this permit request by the Maine Department of Transportation (File # NAE-2016-01181) should be forwarded no later than July 13, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Jay Clement), 675 Western Ave., #3, Manchester, Maine 04351. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Jay Clement at 207-623-8367 or by email to jay.l.clement@usace.army.mil.