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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDEP email Grant, Kelly From:Grant, Kelly Sent:Thursday, February 27, 2020 9:04 AM To:'Poyant, Andrew (DEP)' Cc:'oweidhaas@verizon.net' Subject:79 Webster Road NOI Attachments:wpa noiappa Ecol Restor Appdx A Lmtd Proj Checklist - Weidhaas signed.pdf; Notice in Environmental Monitor published 2.10.2020.JPG; Environmental Monitor Public Notice.pdf Andrew See below and attached from the applicant. I have also attached a copy of the Environmental Monitor public notice. Thanks Kelly Grant Conservation Administrator Town of Yarmouth 508-398-2231 Ext 1288 kgrant@yarmouth.ma.us From: Olaf Weidhaas \[mailto:oweidhaas@verizon.net\] Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2020 5:01 PM To: Grant, Kelly <KGrant@yarmouth.ma.us> Subject: Re: Webster Road application Attention! This email originates outside of the organization. Do not open attachments or click links unless you are sure this email is from a known sender and you know the content is safe. Call the sender to verify if unsure. Otherwise delete this email. Hi, Kelly, Re Item 1, I have attached the signed Appendix A checklist. Not sure what happened here, since I thought I had submitted it. Re Item 2, I am not sure I understand what I should provide here in this case. The alternative to what we are proposing is to do nothing, which would lead to takeover of the Phragmites again and the crowding out of any other vegetation like the native grasses starting to grow back. By doing nothing, we would eliminating this "riverfront" area as a usable habitat for wild life that it has become again by removing the phragmites. Can you help me understand what is expected here? I am looking at 310 CMR 10.58 and first of all, I am not sure the small creek in my backyard qualifies as a "river", but if there is any section that applies, it is this one: "Riverfront areas are important wildlife habitat, providing food, shelter, breeding, migratory, and overwintering areas. Even some predominantly upland species use and may be seasonally dependent on riverfront areas. Riverfront areas promote biological diversity by providing habitats for an unusually wide variety of upland and wetland species, including bald eagles, osprey, and kingfishers. Large dead trees 1 provide nesting sites for bird species that typically use the same nest from year to year. Sandy areas along rivers may serve as nesting sites for turtles and water snakes. Riverfront areas provide food for species such as wood turtles which feed and nest in uplands but use rivers as resting and overwintering areas. Riverfront areas provide corridors for the migration of wildlife for feeding or breeding. Loss of this connective function, from activities that create barriers to wildlife movement within riverfront areas, results in habitat fragmentation and causes declines in wildlife populations. Wildlife must also be able to move across riverfront areas, between uplands and the river." Phragmites creates barriers to wildlife movement within riverfront areas, and by removing the phragmites, we have enabled wildlife like ducks, swans, ospreys, various bird species, to use this "riverfront area" again. Is this what I should say? RE Item 3, I think section 310 CMR 10.32 (5) applies which states that: "Notwithstanding the provisions of 310 CMR 10.32(3), a project which will restore or rehabilitate a salt marsh, or create a salt marsh, may be permitted in accordance with 310 CMR 10.11 through 10.14, 10.24(8), and/or 10.53(4)." By removing the Phragmites, we are restoring the natural salt marsh again and allowing native grasses to take foothold again. Is that what is expected here? Re item 4: I attached a screen print of the applicable section of the environmental monitor published on Feb 10, 2020, showing this project/application as the last item on the list. Thanks, -Olaf -----Original Message----- From: Grant, Kelly <KGrant@yarmouth.ma.us> To: 'Olaf Weidhaas' <oweidhaas@verizon.net> Sent: Wed, Feb 26, 2020 1:42 pm Subject: Webster Road application Hi Olaf The DEP have come back to me as there is information missing from your application.  You did not submit the Appendix A checklist and any corresponding material required under it.  You also need to meet the requirement for the Riverfront Area by providing the alternatives analysis 310 CMR 10.58  You need to include a written response to how the project meet the performance standards within the regulations – salt marsh 310 CMR 10.32 specifically  Evidence of the posting in the environmental monitor Let me know when you can have this to me by. Thanks Kelly Grant Conservation Administrator Town of Yarmouth 508-398-2231 Ext 1288 kgrant@yarmouth.ma.us 2