Project Updates

• 10/19/23 – The MEPA office has issued a certificate for the project requiring a Single Environmental Impact Report — click here to view.
  The SEIR scope requests more information on how the project will characterize and sample sediment behind the dam, as well as potential mitigation options. The Project Team will be working on compiling a comprehensive SEIR that addresses all the requests in the certificate.

  9/28/23 –  Supplemental information for the project EENF as requested by the MEPA office has been submitted — click here for the pdf.
  8/23/23 –  The MEPA Public Comment period is now OPEN and the Town has EXTENDED the period until October 10th, 2023.
  Click here to view the project page on the Environmental Monitor web portal

  • The public meetings held by the MEPA office took place on 9/13 (virtual) and 9/14 (in-person). To view the materials that were presented during those meetings, click here for the powerpoint file and click here for the pdf file. 

• And click here for a copy of the handout that was distributed at the in-person meeting that has QR code links to all relevant resources.

The project is currently progressing to the permitting stage, following the Select Board’s August 2022 vote and the May 2023 town meeting and subsequent endorsement. 

The first step in the permitting process is to file with the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA). This will provide an opportunity for the public and stakeholders to identify issues that need to be addressed by the appropriate permitting authorities and programs to ensure that no significant negative impacts will occur from the proposed project. 

That application is ready to be filed by the July 31 deadline, which would publicly post the project in the August 9th issue of the Environmental Monitor; this then opens the public hearing. Comments on the filing would be accepted up until August 29. The overall MEPA process usually takes between 30-60 days, after which the Secretary of Environmental Affairs issues a certificate which summarizes the public and regulatory input and identifies all the issues that must be addressed during the permitting process. Assuming a certificate is issued, the project will then proceed to the 10 individual permits that will be required for the project.

Any remaining questions that arise during the MEPA process regarding the project will be answered in order to meet the stringent “no negative impact” test that the permitting agencies are required by law to certify.

The estimated permitting timeline is showcased below (this is subject to change):

Local:

Ipswich Conservation Commission Restoration Order of Conditions – Feb ‘24

State:

MA Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Review / Secretary’s Certificate – Aug ‘23 – Sep ‘23

MA Office of Dam Safety (ODS) Chapter 253 Permit – Feb ‘24

MA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) 401 Water Quality Certification – Oct ‘23 – Dec ‘23

MA DEP Chapter 91 Dredge Permit – Jan ‘24 – Jul ‘24

MA Historical Commission (MHC) Memorandum of Agreement – Early 2024

MA Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) Fishway Permit – Near project start

Federal:

US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 404/Section 10 Permit – Oct ‘23 – Feb ‘24

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 Consultation – Early 2024

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Letter of Map Revision – Summer ‘24

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Review – Early 2024

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit – Near project start

Members of IRWA, SGH, T-Ford, and EBSCO met for a site visit at the EBSCO Riverside Building. The purpose of the meeting was to scope out ideal locations in the basement and explore their feasibility for drilling a test pit. 

A test pit is required in order to determine the material composition of the foundation’s support piers. The material of the support piers will then inform infrastructure mitigation options. 

Potential work on the test pit will be done in late summer or early fall, when the Ipswich River is at its lowest. If you want to know more information about the impact of dam removal on the EBSCO facility, check out the 2021 memo.

Ipswich River Ecological Restoration Permitting passed Article 14 with a vote in favor 314-144 at Ipswich Town Meeting.