Stop Open Bay Dumping at Site 104

Site 104 is an 1800-acre open water site, approximately 4 miles in length and 3/4 mile in width, located roughly a mile off the shore of the northern tip of Kent Island, extending southward toward the Bay Bridge. Bottom depths at the site range between 40 and 70 feet.

In order to maintain shipping channels for the Port of Baltimore, periodic dredging of Chesapeake Bay channels is needed. Site 104 is being proposed as a placement site for 18 million cubic yards of material dredged from these shipping channels. Often called "spoil", this dredged material is fine-grained sediment and organic matter that have deposited in shipping channels, altering their depth.

Once removed from the channel, the dredged material must be deposited somewhere else.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation concerns:

• Millions of Federal, state, and local government and private citizen dollars have been spent to prevent sediment erosion and nutrient pollution from running into the Bay. Allowing the disposal of 18 million cubic yards of sediment in the Bay is contrary to these efforts.

• Overboard dumping into the "Deep Trough" – the ancient riverbed of the Susquehanna - was prohibited by state law in the early 1990’s because of its significance to overwintering crabs and other potential adverse environmental effects. Site 104 is part of the deep trough and should also be protected due to its potential ecological significance.

• A potentially large amount of the total 18 million cubic yards may migrate out of Site 104, once dumped there. Most of the dredged material to be placed there is fine-grained sediment, which takes a long time to settle to the bottom. Bay currents, tides, storms and even human activities have the potential to keep these fine sediments in suspension and move them to other parts of the Bay.

• Dumping at Site 104 occurred between 1924 and 1975, but since then, we have improved our understanding of natural systems and have passed many laws designed to protect the environment from harmful activities.

• CBF believes the Port of Baltimore can thrive economically while relying on beneficial dredge spoil disposal options, such as shoreline and habitat restoration and commercial uses, instead of overboard dumping.

What Can You Do?

Look at the Environmental Impact Statement and learn more about the site.

A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was released by the Army Corps of Engineers on February 12, 1999. This document outlines the environmental conditions at the site and the environmental impacts associated with dumping 18 million cubic yards of dredged material at Site 104. Copies of the DEIS are available at the Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District website: http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/civwks/site104.htm or at the following public libraries:

Queen Anne’s County Free Library
121 S. Commerce Street
Centreville, MD 21617

Kent County Public Library
408 High Street
Chestertown, MD 21620

Anne Arundel County Public Library
North County
1010 Eastway Drive
Glen Burnie, MD 21060

Queen Anne’s County Public Library
Branch Kent Island Branch
200 Library Circle
Stevensville, MD 21666

Frederick Douglas Library
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, MD 21853

Miller Library, Washington College
300 Washington Avenue
Chertown, MD 21620

Attend the informational workshop and ask questions.

An informational public workshop has been scheduled for March 11, 1999 from 12:00 noon – 8:00pm at the Queen Anne’s County Public Library Kent Island Branch. The purpose of this public workshop is to answer citizen’s technical questions. Experts on nutrients, sediment transport, water quality, fisheries and other topics will be available to answer specific questions and discuss the Environmental Impact Statement. You do not have to be at this workshop for the entire time.

Attend one of the public meetings and deliver your comments to the Corps of Engineers about Site 104.

Three public hearings will be held to take citizen comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement. All comments will be recorded and have to be considered. This hearing is for comments only, technical questions should be asked at the informational workshop.

March 22, 1999 7:00pm
Kent Island High School
900 Love Point Road
Stevensville, MD

March 25, 1999 7:00pm
Kent County High School
25301 Lambs Meadow Road
Worton, MD

March 30, 1999 7:00pm
Annapolis Senior High School
2700 Riva Road
Annapolis, MD

Submit written comments to the Corps of Engineers on Site 104.

Send your comments by mail to:

Mr. Wesley Coleman
Baltimore District Planning Division
P.O. Box 1715
Baltimore, MD 21203-1715
(ATTN: CENAB-PL)

or email: wesley.e.coleman@usace.army.mil

Write a letter to your state Senator and Delegates.

Numerous bills have been introduced in this State Legislative session on Site 104 and open water dumping of dredged material. Check for more details on the bills on the General Assembly web page at www.mlis.state.md.us

Send your letters to:

Dear Delegate _____
Lowe House of Delegates Building
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991

Dear Senator _____
James Senate Office Building
Annapolis, MD 21401-1991

(See activist tips section of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation website for information on how to write a good letter).

Come to a legislative hearing.

A Senate hearing will be held on Tuesday February 23, 1999 in Annapolis on three of these dredging-related bills. To be heard:

Senate Bill 325 – Prohibiting Open Water Dumping of Dredged Material at Site 104;

Senate Bill 465 – Prohibiting the construction of Artificial Island for Dredged Spoil Disposal; and

Senate Bill 468 – Requiring All Dredged Material be Disposed in an Environmental Beneficial Manner.

The hearing will be held at 1:00pm in the Senate Economic & Environmental Matters Committee room, Room 200 in the Senate Building. If you wish to testify you need to sign up 1/2 hour before the hearing.

Stay informed.