Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers, Baltimore district
2 HOPKINS PLAZA
Baltimore, MD 21201
Operations Division July 20, 2023
SUBJECT: North East River Maintenance Dredging, Cecil County, Maryland
PUBLIC NOTICE CENAB-OP-N-23-01
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT The United States Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District (Corps), is planning to perform maintenance dredging for the North East River federal navigation channel near North East, Cecil County, Maryland. Please be advised that implementation of this maintenance dredging is dependent on available funds. The Corps’ notification and review procedures for dredging in federal navigation channels is found under Section 313 and 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (33 USC 1323 and 1344) and Corps regulations at 33 CFR Part 336.
The proposed work consists of dredging the North East River channel to its authorized depth of seven feet mean lower low water, plus two feet of allowable overdepth, and a width of 60 feet (Map 1). The Corps plans to dredge approximately 100,000 cubic yards of material consisting of combinations of clay, mud, sand, silt, and shell. Dredging operations will be performed by hydraulic pipeline dredging. The material will be placed via pipeline to an existing upland placement site (Map 2).
The proposed maintenance dredging of the North East River is being reviewed for environmental impacts in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act. Information provided in the required Environmental Assessment and preliminary 404(b)(1) evaluation suggests that no significant environmental impacts are expected from this dredging project. Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not warranted. Any construction at the existing placement site will be conducted in a manner consistent with the approved Maryland Coastal Zone Management Program. The project will comply with the Endangered Species Act and provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended, and will not have any adverse effect on endangered species or essential fish habitat for federally managed species.
The Corps will coordinate the project with the following federal, state, and local agencies: the United States Environmental Protection Agency; the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; the National Marine Fisheries Service; the Maryland Department of the Environment; the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; the Maryland Historical Trust; and Cecil County, Maryland.
The decision whether to accomplish the work proposed in this public notice will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed work on the public interest. The decision will reflect the national concern for the protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit, which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal, must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered; for example conservation, aesthetics, fish and wildlife values, general environmental concerns, economics, historic values, navigation, energy needs, recreation, resiliency, safety, water quality, food production, and public welfare. The work will not be accomplished unless it is found to be in the public’s interest.
Any person who has an interest that may be affected by the placement of this dredged material may request a public hearing. The request must be submitted in writing to the District Engineer, US Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, within 30 days of the date of this notice and must clearly set forth the interest that may be affected and the manner in which the interest may be affected by this activity. The Corps will complete environmental documentation for this project, which will be available upon request.
The Corps will apply for Water Quality Certification from the State of Maryland, which is required by Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Any comments relating to water quality concerns should also be forwarded to the Maryland Department of the Environment, Standards and Certification, Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 430, Baltimore, Maryland 21230. We request that you provide this information to anyone interested in this project. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Danielle Szimanski at danielle.m.szimanski@usace.army.mil or Mr. Eric Lindheimer eric.m.lindheimer@usace.army.mil.
William P. Seib
Chief, Operations Division
Enclosures