Posted on February 21, 2019
SEABROOK — The state Department of Environmental Services is seeking public input by mid-March on the dredging of Seabrook and Hampton harbors.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ proposed work includes an emergency dredging of the harbors. Plans call for dredging 152,000 cubic yards of sand.
The DES seeks public comment on the project until March 14 at 4 p.m. Only written comments will be accepted and can be sent by mail, email or fax, according to the department. The project name and certification number, resident’s name or organization, mailing address, email address and phone number must be included with the submission.
The draft certification states there is reasonable assurance that construction and operation of the dredge will not violate state surface water quality standards, according to a statement from the department.
Most of the work would be done with a hydraulic pipeline, however, it is likely that approximately 700 cubic yards from the entrance harbor will be removed using a hopper dredge, the DES said.
Where hydraulic pipeline dredging occurs, the dredged material would be placed along areas of Hampton Beach, Seabrook Beach, an area beneath the southern end of the Route 1A bridge, and within and adjacent to a composite sheet pile wall built in 2005 to protect the Middle Ground sand flat, the DES said.
If a hopper dredge is utilized, the material would be placed at one of the nearshore sites in the vicinity of the project, according to the department.
Comments can be mailed to 401 Certification Program (Attention: Gregg Comstock), NHDES Watershed Management Bureau, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095. Emails should be sent to gregg.comstock@des.nh.gov and faxes to 603-271-7894.
Anyone with questions is asked to contact Comstock, supervisor of the NHDES Water Quality Planning Section at 603-271-2983 or via email at gregg.comstock@des.nh.gov.
To see project details, visit https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/water/wmb/section401/coe_ind.htm.
Source: Newburyportnews.com
