CONCORD, Mass. – SKR Partners, 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 constructing a new boating facility that will provide 7 boat slips in North Cove off of Foxboro Road in Essex, Conn.
The proposed work includes the construction of a 5.25-foot-wide by 56-foot-long fixed wood pile and timber walkway/pier, a 5-foot by 36-foot-long fixed ramp, an 85-square-foot ramp landing platform with rails, a 6.25-foot-wide by 90-foot-long main timber pier with open grate decking and electric/water utilities posts, and four 4.25-foot-wide by 30-foot-long batter braced pile-supported finger piers with open grate decking and associated ladders.
Approximately 60, 12-14-inch timber piles will be driven into the substrate using a barge-mounted crane. The project, as proposed, will extend approximately 130 feet beyond the mean high water line and result in an increase of 1,452 square feet of new structure. The dock structures will provide seven boat slips to be used for recreational purposes.
The proposed project will impact 1,500 square feet of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. This substrate consists primarily of fine grain sand and silt and some submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). Loss of this habitat may adversely affect these species and SAV. 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 application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps of Engineers 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 can be viewed on the Corps website at: www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
Public comments on the work proposed by SKR Partners, LLC (file #NAE-2014-00151) should be forwarded no later than Aug. 12, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Lindsay Flieger), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Lindsay Flieger at 978-318-8656 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: lindsay.flieger@usace.army.mil.