Chestnut Street - Notice of Intent
Boston Gas Company proposes an 8-inch gas main extension on Chestnut Street and installation of a prefabricated PRV in a single concrete vault within the roadway shoulder adjacent to Back River.
AI summary
Boston Gas Company proposes to install an 8-inch gas main along Chestnut Street, connect it to the existing main on Water Street, and place a prefabricated pressure relief valve in a single underground concrete vault within the roadway shoulder adjacent to Back River. The project will occur within the roadway and cleared shoulder, alter 445 sq ft of Riverfront Area, use standard BMPs for erosion control, and has been submitted as a Limited Project under the WPA (NOI dated August 18, 2026).
Gallery
Project details
What is proposed
Boston Gas Company (BGC) proposes to install a new 8-inch natural gas main along Chestnut Street, connect it to the existing main on Water Street, and install a prefabricated pressure relief valve (PRV). The PRV and associated equipment will be placed within a single underground concrete vault; the above‑ground portion of the PRV enclosure is shown as 20" x 33" x 27". A small SCADA control box and vent poles will be installed above ground to allow venting during pressure‑relief events.
Where and how big
The work is located at Chestnut Street and Water Street in Amesbury, adjacent to the Back River. All construction is planned within the existing paved roadway and the cleared roadway shoulder. The NOI reports proposed alteration of the Riverfront Area totaling 445 square feet (250 sq ft within 0–100 feet of the river and 195 sq ft within 100–200 feet). No work is proposed directly within delineated wetland areas or the mapped 100‑year floodplain, and no tree removal is required.
Environmental protections and site work
Construction will include trench excavation for the new gas main and installation of the PRV vault within the roadway shoulder. Best Management Practices (BMPs) identified in the NOI will be implemented to limit sediment and erosion, including temporary sediment barriers (for example straw wattles), routine inspection and maintenance of controls, and daily roadway sweeping if sediment is tracked. If dewatering is necessary, discharge will be routed through a filter bag with additional sediment filtration placed in upland areas prior to discharge. Temporarily disturbed areas will be restored to pre‑construction conditions, seeded with an upland conservation seed mix where appropriate, and erosion controls removed after stabilization.
The project has been designed to meet applicable performance standards for buffer and riverfront areas and is being treated as a Limited Project under 310 CMR 10.53(3)(d) (construction of underground public utilities).
Status
The Notice of Intent and supporting materials were submitted by BSC Group, Inc. on behalf of Boston Gas Company and filed with MassDEP via eDEP; the application was dated August 18, 2026. BGC requests an Order of Conditions from the Amesbury Conservation Commission for the proposed work.
Discussion at meetings
- APPROVEApprove the Boston Gas Company Notice of Intent for utility work on Chestnut Street (installation of a pressure relief valve) and issue an Order of Conditions including erosion controls and catch-basin protection.
- OTHERClose the public hearing on the Boston Gas Company Chestnut Street NOI.
- CONTINUEContinue the public hearing for the Chestnut Street / Boston Gas Company NOI (DEP file pending) to October 5, 2026.
