Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Massdot Outfall topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MassDOT, Woburn conservation commission discuss concrete headwalls and footprint concerns at Richard Circle outfalls
Summary
MassDOT District 4 presenters described construction of four concrete headwalls and splash pads at three outfalls behind Richard Circle to reduce roadway flooding; DEP flagged combined wetland impacts above the 5,000‑sq‑ft threshold and commissioners asked for an operation and maintenance schedule and clarification on 401 certification.
Alexa Marquis of GPI and colleague Sam Campbell told the Woburn Conservation Commission the project (DEP file 348‑868) addresses flooding where a degraded inlet and three outfalls behind Richard Circle have repeatedly caused roadway flooding and backyard backups. MassDOT said crews performed emergency clearing in March 2023 and now propose concrete headwalls, splash pads and temporary swamp‑mat access to make future maintenance easier and reduce repeated excavation impacts.
Marquis said DEP commented that combined impacts to bordering vegetated wetlands (BVW) and land under water exceeded 5,000 square feet when prior emergency work was included; that threshold would trigger the need for a separate Section 401 water quality certification unless the project can show the total will be reduced below the threshold. She said the team plans to reduce temporary work footprints and expects the order of conditions to serve as the water‑quality certification if the total impacts can be reduced below 5,000 sq ft.
Commissioners asked for the project’s operation and maintenance schedule, the proposed inspection frequency for the headwalls, and more detail on when MassDOT expects to perform work (seasonal limits). Commissioner Meany and others emphasized that easier access for maintenance is a benefit but urged the applicants to provide the district maintenance O&M frequencies and to confirm whether in‑house crews or contractor bids will be used.
MassDOT representatives said they would confirm NPDES/NPDES‑related language in the plans, clarify whether a 50‑year storm standard was used for sizing, and provide the requested O&M details at the next hearing. The commission agreed to continue the public hearing to June 27 to allow applicants to revise footprints and submit additional documentation. "This design has two benefits... it allows maintenance crews to say, 'hey, there's a head wall here' and 'your bucket will hit concrete,'" a MassDOT presenter said when explaining the maintenance rationale.
Next steps: applicants to submit a revised plan with reduced temporary footprints (if practicable), provide or confirm O&M inspection frequencies, clarify whether a separate 401 will be required if the combined impact remains >5,000 sq ft, and return for the continued hearing on June 27, 2024.
