BATH

Bath Iron Works expects a decision within weeks from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding its permit application to dredge a portion of the Kennebec River this winter, a company spokesman said Friday.

“The permit is working its way through the review process and indications are that we’ll have a decision around mid-November,” said Jim DeMartini, BIW’s director of communications.

The company proposes to place gravel and stone fill material below the high tide line of the river, to cover approximately 7,020 square feet of river bottom adjacent to one of its ship berths. That would allow for 3 1/2 feet of scour protection, to allow for testing of ship electrical systems.

At the same time, BIW wants to conduct maintenance dredging at several locations of its Bath facility.

Public comments on the permit request are due by Nov. 23. They should be forwarded to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office, attn. Jay Clement, 675 Western Ave. #3, Manchester, ME 04351.

DeMartini said that an exact starting time has not been determined.

“We will accomplish the work during the approaching winter months, which is the window within which this activity is authorized to take place,” he said. “My understanding is the period extends from November to April.”

Historically, dredging work in the Kennebec has taken place between November and the end of April, when river businesses and wildlife are less active.

The application process, DeMartini said, “encompasses a detailed review of all environmental issues required by the law or regulations.”

For its maintenance program, BIW wants to dredge approximately 70,000 cubic yards of mostly sand from a 12.6-acre area, to a depth of minus 70 feet mean low water.

The operation would allow the company to re-establish operational depths within its drydock sinking basin.

The company would disposed of at an in-river site, located off Bluff Head.

Approximately 3,500 cubic yards of sand and silt, dredged from an eight-acre area, would be disposed of at an upland, not-wetland location.

Last year, opponents of a BIW dredging activity objected to its August timing. The state Board of Environmental Protection denied a slate of appeals seeking to modify the state permit.

lgrard@timesrecord.com