USA: Army Corps Issues Emergency Permit for Plum Island Project

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District issued an emergency permit on Oct. 26, 2012 to the Coastal Property Owner’s Association to conduct work in waters of the U.S. in conjunction with placing dredged sand to support a coastal dune on Plum Island in Newbury, Mass.

The emergency permit was issued in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy and its impact on the coast.

The Association performed work and discharged dredged material below the high tide line (HTL) of waters of the U.S. in order to bulldoze sand from the intertidal zone and place it in front of the coastal dune that exists just above the high tide line at Plum Island Beach in Newbury. This activity is referred to as beach scraping.

The work area is directly in front of One Southern Boulevard and 25 and 27 Annapolis Way in Newbury. The total area below the high tide line where beach scraping was done is approximately 35,000 square feet. Sand was bulldozed in layers not to exceed 2 feet. The purpose of the project is storm protection. The permit was valid for a one-time beach scraping event only. Future beach scraping proposals will require new authorization.

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Press Release, November 21, 2012