Environmental notification form

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs · from the MEPA office · 4 pages · 607 KB
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Environmental

Affairs §@ MEPA Office
Environmental

For Office Use Only
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs

BOEA No: Ach 7? OQ
MEPA Analy) indhé Bockkey

Phone: 617-626-

JOH4Y

Notification Form

The information requested on this form must be completed to begin MEPA Review in
accordance with the provisions of the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, 301 CMR

11.00.

Project Name:
Winthrop Ferry Project

Street: Shirley Street

Municipality: Winthrop

Watershed: Boston Harbor

Universal Tranverse Mercator Coordinates:
19 03 37582E 4692157N

Latitude: 42° 2’ 00”
Longitude: 70° 58’ 20”

Estimated commencement date: 9/03

Estimated completion date: 5/04

Approximate cost: $2.5 million

Status of project design:

35

Y%complete

Proponent: Town of Winthrop

Street: 1 Metcalf Square

Municipality: Winthrop

| State: MA

| Zip Code: 02152

Martha Craig Rheinharat

Name of Contact Person From Whom Copies of this ENF May Be Obtained:

Firm/Agency: Vine Associates, Inc.

Street: 18 Beach St., P.O. Box 555

Municipality: Monument Beach

State: MA

| Zip Code: 02553

Phone: 508-743-0390

Fax: 508-743-0391

E-mail: mrheinhardt@
vineassociates.net

Does this project meet or exceed a mandatory EIR threshold (see 301 CMR 11.03)?

LlYes
Has this project been filed with MEPA before?

LlYes (EOEA No. )

Has any project on this site been filed with MEPA before?

L]Yes (EOEA No. )

Is this an Expanded ENF (see 301 CMR 11.05(7)) requesting:

a Single EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.06(8)) LlYes
a Special Review Procedure? (see 301CmR 11.09) LlYes
a Waiver of mandatory EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.11) (Yes
a Phase | Waiver? (see 301 CMR 11.11) LlYes

[—XJNo
KXINo
EXINo

IXINo
IXINo
XINo
BXINo

Identify any financial assistance or land transfer from an agency of the Commonwealth, including

the agency name and the amount of funding or land area (in acres):

ADAP-UDAG.

Funding from EOTC and

Are you requesting coordinated review with any other federal, state, regional, or local agency?

L ]Yes(Specify

) KXINo

List Local or Federal Permits and Approvals:
local Order of Conditions; U.S.A.C.O.E Permit

Which ENF or EIR review threshold(s) does the project meet or exceed (see 301 CMR 11.03):"

[_] Land (_] Rare Species [X] Wetlands, Waterways, & Tidelands
L_] Water _] Wastewater (_] Transportation
(] Energy CJ Air L] Solid & Hazardous Waste
(J ACEC C] Regulations L] Historical & Archaeological
Resources
Summary of Project Size Existing Change Total State Permits &
& Environmental Impacts Approvals
AND Order of Conditions
: Superseding Order of
3.12
Total site acreage Conditions
New acres of land altered 9 IX] Chapter 91 License
Acres of impervious area 22 3 2.5 CL] 401 Water Quality
Certification
Square feet of new bordering 0 [-] MHD or MDC Access
vegetated wetlands alteration Permit
Square feet of new other ; [] Water Management
wetland alteration “ sonee Act Permit
5820 SF

[J New Source Approval
(J DEP or MWRA

0 Sewer Connection/
Extension Permit

(shading)

Acres of new non-water
dependent use of tidelands or

waterways L] Other Permits
R p (including Legislative ;

Gross square footage 0 2550 SF 2550 SF Approvals) — Specify:
Number of housing units 0 ) 0
Maximum height (in feet) 9 25 25
Vehicle trips per day <50 266 316
Parking spaces 137 35 192

WATER/WASTEWATER
Gallons/day (GPD) of water use 0 200 200
GPD water withdrawal 0 200 200
GPD wastewater generation/ 0 200 200
treatment
Length of water/sewer mains o0 0.09/0.09 0.09/0.09
(in miles)

CONSERVATION LAND: Will the project involve the conversion of public parkland or other Article 97 public
natural resources to any purpose not in accordance with Article 97?

(les (Specify )  [INo

Will it involve the release of any conservation restriction, preservation restriction, agricultural preservation
restriction, or watershed preservation restriction?

Ces (Specify ) BINo

RARE SPECIES: Does the project site include Estimated Habitat of Rare Species, Vernal Pools, Priority
Sites of Rare Species, or Exemplary Natural Communities?

LYes (Specify ) EINo

HISTORICAL /ARCHAEQLOGICAL RESOURCES: Does the project site include any structure, site or district

listed in the State Register of Historic Place or the inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets of the
Commonwealth?

(Yes (Specify )  EINo

If yes, does the project involve any demolition or destruction of any listed or inventoried historic or
archaeological resources?

LlYes (Specify )  BINo

AREAS OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN: Is the project in or adjacent to an Area of Critical
Environmental Concern?

ClYes (Specify )  BINo

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The project description should include (a) a description of the
project site, (b) a description of both on-site and off-site alternatives and the impacts associated

with each alternative, and (c) potential on-site and off-site mitigation measures for each alternative
(You may attach one additional page, if necessary.)

The proposed project is the construction of a commuter ferry terminal at an existing public boat ramp facility at the
‘Town Landing off of Shirley Street in Winthrop, Massachusetts. The approximately three-acre property includes a
state Public Access Board boat ramp, but no pier or other direct access structure for ferry vessel access. A parking
area provides access to Boston Harbor for recreational and small commercial boats. As currently configured, the
facility provides 87 boat trailer spaces and 50 automobile parking spaces. The site is a filled pier located on filled
tidelands, constructed from materials dredged from adjacent areas of the harbor in order to construct the public
boat launch facility. The site measures approximately 340 by 400 feet. The shorelines are comprised of sloped
stone revetments.

Waterside improvements for the proposed ferry service facility include the construction of a pier structure with
accompanying gangways and floats, which extend to water deep enough to accommodate a ferry vessel. A 160-
foot long by 16-foot-wide pile-supported timber pier will be constructed. While vehicle access is not proposed, the
pier will be capable of light emergency vehicle loads. The pier will be provided with a handrail and be equipped
with electrical and water utilities and lighting. The pier is proposed to terminate in a 24-foot by 24-foot head area,
which will help alleviate congestion during times of boarding. In addition, this type of area can be provided with
benches and used as a viewing platform. From the pier, two 45-foot long gangways provide connection to the
ramps and platforms on the float. This ramp provides the required handicap access during both low and high tides,
similar to other sites around Boston Harbor. A 30-foot by 75-foot float and a 12-foot by 60-foot float are
proposed for vessel docking and passenger loading and unloading. A 24-inch wide detectable warning strip will be
required along all edges of the float and platforms which do not have handrailings. The facility will be entirely
handicap accessible.

Planned landside improvements include a new building to house a passenger waiting area, harbormaster’s office,
and public restrooms. Water and electricity will be extended to both the building and the pier from existing town

facilities. Sewer will be extended to the building. Traffic circulation in and out of the parking lot will be
improved by the installation of a second curb cut off Shirley Street. The parking lot will also be re-surfaced, re-
striped, and landscaped. The interior paved area of the parking lot will also be expanded somewhat along Shirley
Street. Development of a ferry terminal will enhance public access to the waterfront and use of the harbor,
together with providing opportunities for enhancement of the adjacent Shirley Street commercial district and
surrounding residential neighborhoods.

Resource areas within the project site include Land Under the Ocean, Coastal Beach, Land Containing Shellfish
and Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage. The Coastal Bank has been replaced by an existing stone revetment.
Areas of Salt Marsh exist adjacent to the project site, but are outside the area of any proposed work.

A small area of LUO would be impacted by the installation of piles for the proposed pier. Approximately four (4)
24-inch diameter and four (4) 16-inch diameter steel piles will be installed in LUO, displacing approximately 18
SF of bottom. Approximately 3900 SF of LUO would be shaded by the pier. No significant changes to water
circulation are expected from the construction of the pier. Since this area is fairly deep and no eelgrass is present,
there should be no significant adverse effects on the resource area due to the construction of the pier.

A small area of Coastal Beach would be impacted by the installation of piles for the proposed pier. Approximately
thirty-six (36) 12-inch diameter timber piles will be installed in the Coastal Beach, displacing approximately 28
SF. Approximately 1920 SF of Coastal Beach would be shaded by the pier. However, the pier will be high
enough to allow plenty of sunlight to infiltrate and should have no significant adverse effects on the resource area.

The assessment of potential sites included a review of all possible sites within the Town. The following seven
locations were assessed: (1) Future Post Office/Pleasant Park/Atlantis Marina; (2) Cottage Park Yacht Club: (3)
Elks; (4) RR Trestle/Pier”; (5) Crystal Cove Marina; (6) Public Landing/Public Access Board; (7) Deer Island.
Each of these sites were reviewed based on the following criteria: (1)Location; (2) Landside Access; (3) Waterside
Access; (4) Parking Availability; (5) Potential to Serve as Economic Development Catalyst; and (6) Site
Availability.

Several alternative locations for the pier and floats were considered at this site. The criteria considered in the
development of alternative locations include the following: the location has to be operationally efficient for ease of
use by the ferry vessel operators; the location has to be operationally efficient for ease of use by the passengers,
and by vehicles dropping off passengers; the location should minimize negative impact on the adjacent boat ramp
operations; the orientation of the float should minimize loads and movement due to wind and waves; a minimum
float draft of 4 feet is needed; the float, ramps and gangways have to be handicap accessible and meet ADA
guidelines; and the configuration has to be cost-effective. The approximately North ~ South orientation of the float
is preferred for two reasons. First, the orientation of the float into the direction of the largest waves is preferred so
to reduce pitch and roll of the float due to wave motion. Second, the float orientation parallel to the Federal
Channel is thought to be the most efficient for side loading vessels.

A more detailed description is contained in Attachment 3: Project Narrative.