Public Notice

SMOKE TESTING TO BE CONDUCTED

November 3 to December 12, 2025

Weston & Sampson is conducting smoke testing of sewers.

SMOKE IS NOT TOXIC OR STAINING. PEOPLE WITH LUNG

AILMENTS SHOULD AVOID SMOKE. IF YOU HAVE A RELATED

HEALTH CONDITION PLEASE CONTACT WESTON & SAMPSON

AT 774-389-0926. PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE INCLUDING

YOUR NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER SO THAT

APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONS MAY BE TAKEN.

15 DAY PUBLIC NOTICE

ALTERATION OF A U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CIVIL WORKS PROJECT

PURSUANT TO 33 USC 408: North Nashua River Local Protection Project,

Fitchburg, MA

Interested parties are hereby notified that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New

England District (USACE) is evaluating plans under 33 U.S.C. 408 (Section 408) to

allow the City of Fitchburg, MA to replace two existing stormwater outfalls with larger

stormwater outfalls along the North Nashua River adjacent to 166 Boulder Drive in

Fitchburg, MA. One outfall was constructed as part of the federally constructed North

Nashua River Local Protection Project that was designed to improve flood flows through

Fitchburg and reduce flood risk. The federally constructed outfall is an 18-inch-diameter

outfall that penetrates a federally constructed floodwall and will be upsized to 24 inches

in diameter by enlarging the opening through the existing wall. The second outfall is an

existing 18-inch-diameter stormwater outfall that penetrates a dry-stacked stone wall

along the bank of the improved North Nashua River channel within the Nashua River

Local Protection Project. The outfall will be upsized to 60 inches. The stone wall was not

federally constructed, so the federal interest is limited to verifying that the outfall

structure does not encroach on the federally improved river channel and impede flood

flows. The proposed project is part of a larger effort to separate combined sewer

overflow from stormwater flow to meet National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

(NPEDS) Permit requirements.

This Notice is being issued pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 408, USACE Engineering Circular

(EC) 1165-2-220, Executive Order 11988 – Floodplain Management, and Council on

Environmental Quality regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1500-1508)

for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et. seq.) and the USACE Procedures for Implementing NEPA

(33 CFR 230). Section 408 allows USACE to grant permission for the alteration,

occupation, or use of a USACE civil works project if it is determined that the activity will

not be injurious to the public interest and will not impair the usefulness of the federal

project. A decision on a Section 408 request is a federal action, and therefore subject to

NEPA and other environmental compliance requirements.

The proposed project will be conducted within the locations of existing man-made

features, including the site of the Nashua River Local Protection Project. As a result, the

impacts of the project on the existing landscape and habitats will be minimal. USACE

has determined that the action falls within a categorial exclusion under 33 CFR 230.9

and, therefore, is categorically excluded from further NEPA review; an Environmental

Assessment is not required for this action. The public is invited to provide comment. To

request more information, contact: Kevin DiRocco, New England District, U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers, 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742,

Kevin.J.DiRocco@usace.army.mil. The comment period will end on April 2, 2024.

Letters should be postmarked by this date.