PUBLIC NOTICE
Baltimore District Published: April 6, 2026
Permit Application Expires: May 6, 2026
No. NAB-2026-60203-M43
PN-26-11
Interested parties are hereby notified that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District has received an application for a Department of the Army permit pursuant Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1344) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. § 403). The purpose of this public notice is to solicit comments from the public and information necessary to evaluate the probable impact on the public interest regarding the proposed activity as described below and as shown on the enclosed drawings.
PROPOSED ACTIVITY: The applicant is requesting a Department of the Army permit to construct a living shoreline along approximately 2,102 linear feet of shoreline by constructing two stone breakwaters measuring approximately 807 feet long by 18 feet wide (6,751 square feet), three green headland breakwaters measuring approximately 678 feet long by 28 feet wide (7,781 square feet), seven stone headland breakwaters measuring approximately 1,806 feet long by 16 feet wide (12,877 square feet), three boulder and cobble outfalls (266 square feet), two stone spines measuring approximately 92 feet long by 3 feet wide (266 square feet), 12,402 square feet of green riprap, 836 square feet of coir log with stone protection, 4,955 square feet of clean sand fill and 62,861 square feet of marsh plantings, all work extending a maximum of 200 feet channelward of the approximate mean high water shoreline in the Bush River near Water Park Drive, in Belcamp, Harford County, Maryland. The proposed living shoreline will permanently impact approximately 124,749 square feet of tidal waters and 930 square feet of Phragmites marsh.
MITIGATION: The applicant has provided the following explanation why compensatory mitigation should not be required: No compensatory mitigation is proposed. The permanent impacts to Phragmites tidal wetlands will be offset by low and high marsh plantings. The work would reduce shoreline erosion and stabilize failing shoreline conditions, increase coastal resiliency to wave action and projected sea level rise, create/establish marsh habitat, improve water quality, and create aquatic habitat.
HISTORIC PROPERTIES/CULTURAL RESOURCES: Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 U.S.C. § 306108), requires federal agencies to consult with the appropriate State and/or Tribal Historic Preservation Officers to take into account the effects of actions they undertake or permit on historic properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
The USACE is evaluating the undertaking for effects to historic properties as required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This public notice serves to inform the public of the proposed undertaking and invites comments including those from local, state, and federal government agencies with respect to historic resources.
The USACE’s final eligibility and effect determination relative to historic resource impacts may be subject to additional coordination with the State Historic Preservation Officer, federally recognized tribes, and other interested parties, and with full consideration given to the proposed undertaking’s potential direct and indirect effects on historic properties within the USACE-identified permit area.
ENDANGERED SPECIES: Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1536) requires federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service and/or United States Fish and Wildlife Service on all actions that may affect a species listed (or proposed for listing) under the Endangered Species Act as threatened or endangered or that may adversely modify designated critical habitat (or critical habitat proposed such designation). USACE’s preliminary review indicates the described activity may affect a threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat. USACE will complete the required consultation under Section 7 prior to finalizing a permit decision.
This notice serves as request to the National Marine Fisheries Service for any additional information on whether any listed or proposed to be listed endangered or threatened species or critical habitat may be present in the area which would be affected by the proposed activity.
ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT: Section 305(b)(2) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act as amended (16 U.S.C. § 1855), requires federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service on all actions, or proposed actions, permitted, funded, or undertaken by the agency, that may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat. Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 1996, the USACE reviewed the project area, examined information provided by the applicant, and consulted available species information. The USACE’s preliminary review indicates the described activity may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat at the project location or in the vicinity. The USACE will complete the required consultation under Section 305(b)(2) prior to finalizing a permit decision.
NAVIGATION: The proposed structure or activity is not located in the vicinity of a federal navigation channel.
SECTION 408: The applicant will not require permission under Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. § 408) because the activity, in whole or in part, would not alter, occupy, or use a USACE Civil Works project.
WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION: An Individual Water Quality Certification may be required from the Maryland Department of the Environment pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1341).
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT: A federal consistency decision may be required from the state of Maryland pursuant to Section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. § 1451). A permit for the described work will not be issued until a consistency decision has been issued from the state of Maryland, if required.
NOTE: This public notice is being issued based on information furnished by the applicant. This information has not been verified or evaluated to ensure compliance with laws and regulation governing the regulatory program. The geographic extent of aquatic resources within the proposed project area that either are, or are presumed to be, within the USACE jurisdiction has not been verified by USACE personnel.
EVALUATION: The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefits, 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 including cumulative impacts thereof; among these are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historical properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people. A permit will be granted unless its issuance is found to be contrary to the public interest.
COMMENTS: The USACE is soliciting comments from the public; federal, state, and local agencies and officials; Tribal Nations; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the USACE to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for this proposed activity. To make this determination, comments are used to assess impacts to endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. Any comments or objections which are received during this period may be forwarded to the applicant for possible resolution before the determination is made whether to issue or deny the requested permit. Please note that all comments received will become part of the administrative record and are subject to public release under the Freedom of Information Act.
Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in this notice, that a public hearing be held to consider the application. Requests for public hearings shall state, with particularity, the reasons for holding a public hearing. Requests for a public hearing will be granted, unless the District Engineer determines that the issues raised are insubstantial or there is otherwise no valid interest to be served by a hearing.
The Baltimore District will receive written comments on the proposed activity, as outlined above, until May 6, 2026. Comments should be submitted electronically via the Regulatory Request System at https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs/public-notices. Alternatively, you may submit comments to Ms. Nicole Nasteff at nicole.m.voelker@usace.army.mil or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, Attention: Ms. Nicole Nasteff, Regulatory Division, 2 Hopkins Plaza, Baltimore, Maryland, 21201. Please refer to NAB-2026-60203-M43 in your comments.