CONCORD, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Boston 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 expanding its boating facility in Dorchester Bay in Boston, Mass. The work is proposed in Savin Hill Cove of Dorchester Bay at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston) at 200 William T. Morrissey Boulevard in Boston.
The proposed work involves the removal of the existing permitted structures below the mean high water mark of waters of the U.S. and their replacement with an expanded boating facility to accommodate increased recreational usage by UMass Boston and the surrounding community.
The proposed expansion will include the construction of a ramp and float system to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility and a structurally sound platform to conduct the mission of the UMass Boston Division of Marine Operations. The ramp will be anchored to a concrete pad above the high tide line and extend approximately 188 feet waterward from the mean high water line.
The aluminum ramp will have a trestle to raise the gangway if needed during storm situations. The new ramp will increase in size from the originally authorized 56-foot by 4.5-foot dimensions, 252-square-foot area, to a 100-foot by 6-foot, 600-square foot design to accommodate ADA requirements. The ramp will connect to a 100-foot by 30-foot main float. There will be a total of 10 floats connected to the main float. The total area of all floats will be increased from approximately 3,660 square feet to 10,160 square feet.
The floats will be supported by 15, 70-foot 24-inch diameter steel piles driven to approximately -47 feet by barge-mounted crane and hammer. The number of piles will increase from 10 to 22 and the impact will change from 10.57 square feet to 65.71 square feet.
The proposed project will impact 0.15 acre of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) for various species and life stages. The habitat consists of mud. 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 UMass Boston, 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.
Public comments on this work proposed by the University of Massachusetts Boston (file # NAE-2002-02977) should be forwarded no later than Nov. 24, 2016 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Joshua Helms), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Joshua Helms at 978-318-8211 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email to: joshua.m.helms@usace.army.mil.