The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District, announced Thursday that it will formally revise the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed placement of dredged material at Site 104, Queen Anne's County, Md. A revised DEIS will be released for public comment later this year.

Corps officials reached this decision after careful review and analysis of public concerns and consultation with resource agencies.

"The Corps of Engineers is committed to doing a thorough and complete environmental assessment of the Site 104 proposal," said Col. Bruce A. Berwick, commander of the Baltimore District. "It is our intention to prepare a revised draft Environmental Impact Statement that is based on sound analysis, sound science and sound reasoning."

Corps officials plan to complete the revised DEIS in December 1999. The public will then be given 45 days to review and provide comments on the revised DEIS. Public hearings will also be held on the revised DEIS. All previous comments and any future comments will be considered and included in a final EIS. After a 30-day public comment period for the final EIS, the Corps will issue a Record of Decision on whether or not to recommend Site 104. This final decision on the Site 104 proposal is not likely to occur before June 2000.

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