Man O’ War Shoal Dredge Hearing Follow-up

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The Tuesday February 2, 2016 USACE meeting acquiring public input at Sparrows Point High School was well attended.

Senator John Salling, Delegate Long, Delegate Metzgar, and Delegate Grammer stood before watermen, recreational fisherman, biologists, community group officers, and other stakeholders and went “on the record,” categorically opposing any dredging and favoring denial of the Department of Natural Resources and US Army Corp of Engineers dreading permits at the Man O’ War Shoal east of Fort Howard in the upper Chesapeake Bay.

Mr. Doug Myers, scientist of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and environmental analyst Mr. Russell Donnelly in addition to other speakers with scientific credentials, opposed permit approval at the podium, recounting the negative ecological impact of the Man O’ War Shoal dredging.

Maryland Saltwater Sportsfishing Association members in numbers all spoke opposing dredging of the shoal.

Officers of the FHCA testified and represented Fort Howard community opposition and denial of permitting the dredging,  including notable Fort Howard community member,  Maryland Waterman’s Association Director at Large, and Millers Island Edgemere Business Association Board of Director Russell Spangler.

Mr. Spangler had the last comment of the more than 30 or 40 preceding speakers all opposing the permit approval of the dredging appealing to our responsibility stewarding this  last, oldest, surviving  shoal for future unborn generations to come and maintaining the undisturbed shoal as part of Fort Howard’s Chesapeake Bay quality of life .

FHCA appreciates the US Army Corp of Engineers sponsoring the opportunity for public comment locally in Sparrows Point and commends the moderator’s professional execution of the hearing.

Thank you for all who attended, spoke, and those who wished to attend that were unable.

Public comment will be accepted till FEBRUARY 18,2016, again please comment to:

Ms. Abbie Hopkins

ATTN:  CENAB-OPR-M

Baltimore District, Corps of Engineers

P.O. Box 1715

Baltimore, MD 21203-1715

Phone:  410-962-6080

Email: [email protected]

Kathleen Labuda

Secretary/Treasurer

FHCA

“It’s our community, let’s take care of it.”