Review of coastal alteration projects

If you're building in the coastal zone, DMF reviews and provides recommendations to avoid and minimize impacts to the marine fisheries resources and habitats of the Commonwealth.

The environmental review team requests that all applicants submit paperwork electronically for our fisheries environmental review comment.  This means all copies of NOIs, MEPA documents, DEP ch91 and 401 applications, and ACOE filings.

Please email files for North projects (Plymouth to NH Border) to [e-mail]. Please email files for South projects from (Bourne to the RI Border), [e-mail]. If you have any questions please contact Kate Frew at [e-mail].

 

Technical Environmental Review Program

DMF's Technical Environmental Review Program serves to protect the marine fisheries resources of the Commonwealth. 

There are 7 categories of projects and activities that are generally reviewed by the program:

• Docks & piers
• Dredging and dredge material disposal
• Fill projects - revetments, bulkheads, ramps, highway projects
• Beach nourishment
• Harbor development and wastewater planning
• Cables and pipelines
• Renewable energy - wind mills, tidal power

DMF biologists work with state, federal, and local agencies to:

• Review project proposals
• Design directed surveys
• Provide technical assistance
• Submit formal recommendations for the avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of impacts
• Avoid and minimize impacts through project modifications, sequencing, and time of year
• Recommend options for compensatory mitigation or habitat restoration for unavoidable impacts

 

Additional Resources

Conservation moorings

Environmental Recommendations for Small Docks and Floats

Learn how to do an eelgrass survey

Time of Year Restrictions for Coastal Alteration Projects

Time of Year Restrictions- Sortable File

Request a review of your project

To request a review of your project, contact one of our area biologists.

North Shore biologists - North of Plymouth

• Kate Frew - Phone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail]
• Forest Schenck, PhD - Phone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail]
• Iris Seto - Phone [phone]; Email: [e-mail]
• [e-mail]

South Shore biologists - Bourne and south (including Cape Cod and the Islands)

• Amanda Davis - Phone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail]
• John Logan, PhD - Phone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail]
• [e-mail]

Additional reports

Cape Cod Dredging Recommendations: For digital files in ArcGIS, please contact Dr. John Logan at [e-mail] or [phone].

Additional Resources

Impacts of dock shading on salt marshes

Cape Cod Dredging Recommendations

Cape Dredging Appendix A

Cape Dredging Appendix B