Notice of Virtual Informational Public Hearing

A virtual public hearing for only the proposed work listed below is being held to gather information and hear testimony to assist the Department in making a determination regarding an application for a wetlands license. The basis for the hearing being held is due to requirements for tidal wetlands licenses but we are accepting comments for the Nontidal/waterway impacts. Statements for or against this application may be presented orally through the virtual platform during the hearing or in writing to the Maryland Department of the Environment, Tidal Wetlands Division, Mary Phipps-Dickerson, 407 Race Street, Cambridge, Maryland, 21613, by email at Mary.Phipps-Dickerson@maryland.gov, or Telephone No. (410) 901-4033. The virtual public hearing is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on July 7, 2020. In order to view or participate in the hearing, a participant must register at https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5054732437328228621 and directions will be electronically forwarded to the email provided. If internet service is not available, the participant may call 1-866-901-6455 and then enter access code 727-305-611 to hear the public hearing. Phone only participants will not have the ability to provide testimony during the hearing, however, statements may be provided to Mary Phipps-Dickerson by July 1, 2020 to be read during the hearing which may not be longer than three minutes in length. Information and questions can be provided orally by participants during the hearing through the virtual platform. Phone participants may provide questions about the project by July 1, 2020 to Mary Phipps-Dickerson to be answered during the hearing. Associated materials can be accessed at https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/Water/WetlandsandWaterways/Pages/DEL_MAR.aspx for public review.

EASTERN SHORE NATURAL GAS COMPANY, 500 Energy Lane, Dover, Delaware 19901, has applied to install approximately 6.83 miles of new 10-inch diameter buried natural gas pipeline mainline extension and a new delivery metering and regulation station. The 10-inch diameter pipeline will begin near Business US 50 and East Railroad Avenue in Salisbury and continue adjacent to Rt. 13 to the intersection of Flower Hill Church Road and US 13 near Princess Anne in Somerset County, MD. The pipeline route generally follows existing road and railroad rights-of-way and proposes to cross wetlands and waters using trenchless construction methods, such as horizontal directional drill (HDD), including a 75.95-linear foot section placed by HDD with an 18-inch boring a minimum of 28.5 feet below the bottom of the South Prong of the Wicomico River. One nontidal wetland (Wetland 1) and one perennial stream (Waters C - Passerdyke Creek/channelized waters) are proposed to be crossed using open trench construction methods due to significant challenges (narrowness of the road ROW, the presence of overhead utility lines) that limit the ability for use of HDD. The installation of the utility line using open trench and backfill methods in these locations will temporarily impact approximately 1,239 square feet of nontidal stream waters, 16,647 square feet of emergent nontidal wetlands and 14,777 square feet of 25-foot nontidal wetlands buffer. The purpose of this project is to extend natural gas to shippers in the area to meet the growing agricultural, business and residential use and to potentially serve the Eastern Correctional Institute in Somerset County. For more information please contact Mary Phipps-Dickerson at Mary.Phipps-Dickerson@maryland.gov or (410) 901-4033.