Coast Guard’s Broadway Day Beacon III replacement continued while Natural Heritage review is pending

Christine Perron, an environmental scientist with consulting firm McFarland & Johnson, told the Falmouth Conservation Commission on Sept. 25 that the U.S. Coast Guard proposes repairs, replacement or demolition of 10 aids to navigation along Massachusetts coasts and that Broadway Day Beacon III in the Woods Hole Passage would be fully replaced due to its poor condition. ‘‘The existing structure will be removed in its entirety and replaced with a steel tripod that’s rock‑socketed into bedrock,’’ Perron said, and the work would be done from a barge with most staging offshore.

Perron said the proposed in‑water work would result in approximately 189 square feet of resource area impacts and that the project lies within mapped habitat for three state‑listed tern species; the NOI is being submitted concurrently to the Massachusetts Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program for review and staff said consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service is underway. Commissioner Courtney asked about expected life expectancy of the new steel structure; Dan Del Tufo, a civil engineer with Appledore Marine Engineering, replied that similar designs are generally planned for about 30 years of service.

Jen (staff) told the commission it had not yet received a Natural Heritage comment and recommended the hearing be continued so the commission can consider NHESP’s response and any required time‑of‑year restrictions. The commission voted unanimously to continue the hearing to Oct. 2 for receipt of Natural Heritage comments and for any resulting permit conditions.

Next steps: the hearing will resume on Oct. 2, by which point staff expects to have Natural Heritage’s comments; the commission indicated it will consider time‑of‑year restrictions and any additional mitigation proposed by state or federal resource agencies.