Epsilon performed an environmental constraints analysis for a dormitory expansion project on the Massachusetts Maritime Academy campus in Bourne, Massachusetts.  This effort addressed the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, DEP’s Chapter 91 Waterways and Water Quality Certification programs, MEPA, FEMA floodplain mapping, the Massachusetts State Building Code, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Consistency, and Massachusetts Historical Commission Review.  As part of this analysis, Epsilon conducted background research and graphic analysis of historic shoreline change near the proposed project.  Epsilon obtained an Order of Conditions from the Bourne Conservation Commission granting permission for the project to proceed.

The Kendall Square project is a mixed-use urban development comprising approximately 726,000 square feet of life-sciences research and office space in four buildings, a 400-room hotel, approximately 150,000 square feet of residential space, 125,000 square feet of retail space, and underground parking.  Originally a salt marsh, the site was filled during development of Cambridge and Boston’s urban waterfront areas in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  Epsilon provided MEPA consulting services and performed a Chapter 91 jurisdictional analysis of the underutilized 10-acre “brownfield” site off the Broad Canal in Cambridge.  This work included a geological analysis of salt marsh sediments buried beneath site fill to document locations of historical tidal creeks and the historic high tide line.

Epsilon provided permitting services for this high-profile mixed-use waterfront development project that spans over nine urban blocks in the South Boston Waterfront District.  The project includes office and residential uses, ground floor retail space, the new Institute of Contemporary Art, and a hotel to service Boston’s new convention center.  The waterfront permitting involved DEP’s Chapter 91 Waterways and Water Quality Certification programs, Boston’s Conservation Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Office of Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management.

To accommodate construction of a new facility for the Institute of Contemporary Art on a parcel of Fan Pier on the South Boston waterfront, Epsilon worked with the Boston Redevelopment Authority to prepare and gain approval for an amendment to South Boston’s Municipal Harbor Plan.  Epsilon also provided permitting services for the project, which included submitting a Notice of Project Change to MEPA, a Notice of Intent to the Boston Conservation Commission, and a Chapter 91 Waterways License application to DEP.

Epsilon licensed a 35-megawatt electrical transmission cable from Barnstable across Nantucket Sound to Nantucket Island, an effort which involved 27.5 miles of submarine cable and a new electrical substation in Barnstable.  We prepared a routing assessment to identify the preferred land and water routes, including landfall locations for the electrical cable.  Applications submitted and permits/licenses secured by Epsilon included an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (no EIR was required), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 10/404 permits, 401 Water Quality Certification, a Chapter 91 License, CZM Consistency Certification, a NPDES Construction General Permit, Endangered Species Assessments, FAA Approval for new transmission towers, and Conservation Commission approvals in three towns.  Epsilon represented the client at all agency and public meetings and coordinated sub-consultant tasks including a marine survey, onshore and offshore cultural resources investigations, and eelgrass surveys.  The submarine cable was installed in winter 2005-2006 and became active in spring 2006.