Posted on December 1, 2020
BALTIMORE –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, released for public comment their proposal to issue MarylandState Programmatic General Permit –6 (MDSPGP-6) Nov.23, 2020.
This permit would serve to replace the MDSPGP-5 after it expires on Sept.30, 2021, would be valid for 5 years, and applies to activities proposed in waters of the United States, including jurisdictional navigable waters, streams, rivers, other open waters and wetlands within Maryland.
The intent of MDSPGP-6 is to provide a streamlined Department of the Army authorization process for certain activities that are similar in nature, have minimal individual and cumulative adverse effects on the aquatic environment, and satisfy other public interest review factors.
It is the responsibility of the USACERegulatory Program to evaluate applications for Department of the Army permits for any proposed work in waters of the United States, under authorities in Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
The MDSPGP-6 aims to protect aquatic resources within the USACEjurisdictional authorities in Maryland, improve permit application response time and add a certain degree of predictability to the permit program.
Comments are requested by Dec. 23, 2020.
