No review needed for Nahant Causeway

NAHANT – An extensive environmental review process will not be required for the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Nahant Causeway rehabilitation project.Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan said the Secretary of Environmental Affairs just issued the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) for the project.”It doesn’t trip the threshold that would require extensive environmental review,” he said. “This will help to keep the project on track.”Cullinan explained that an Environmental Impact Report can be a lengthy process that can delay or even derail projects.The ENF states that the project includes changes that would actually improve the condition of the sand dunes on the beach and that the project would be beneficial to preserving the sand dunes on the barrier beach.”The project will result in substantial environmental benefits by removing pavement from 2.3 acres of coastal dune/barrier beach,” it reads. “The plans also include removal of fixed structures (i.e. retaining walls, pavement, cement picnic tables, water fountains) from the dunes, which will allow the coastal dune to function more naturally in response to coastal conditions.”According to the report, establishing a north-south sidewalk in the existing parking area and limiting public access to the dunes would be beneficial along with the planned re-vegetation of the dunes.The project, however, is expected to affect an area containing shellfish beds and marine fisheries with the installation of riprap. Riprap is rock and other materials used to protect coastlines from erosion and other coastal processes caused by the sea.The report instructs the DCR to work with the Division of Marine Fisheries to address mitigation during the permitting process.Ian Bowles, who wrote the report for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, said he has heard from numerous Nahant residents who were opposed to certain aspects of the roadway design project. He said the majority of the complaints were regarding lane design because the plans did not include two lanes in each direction for the full length of the Causeway.The current plans call for two, 11-foot lanes in each direction and a 4-foot shoulder heading inbound to Nahant. On the outbound side, plans call for an 11-foot lane and 6-foot shoulder the first 3,000 feet on the outbound side then two, 11-foot lanes and a 4-foot shoulder the last 3,000 feet. Bowles added the DCR is committed to working with the town and engineers to accommodate an extended two-lane roadway outbound.His report concludes by saying, “Given the analysis, design work and review conducted to date and the fact that the DCR has committed to address the concerns of the residents of Nahant regarding the roadway design no further MEPA review is required.”Cullinan said he hopes the initial work would get underway in the spring.