Types of Licenses

General Licenses

The Board of Public Works has delegated to the Maryland Department of the Environment the authority to issue a general license. A general license is authorized for activities that are minor in scope and in potential impacts to wetlands.

Individual Licenses

The Board of Public Works issues individual licenses for projects that do not qualify for a general license. When the Maryland Department of the Environment receives an application for an individual license, it prepares a report and recommendation and forwards the report to the Board's Wetlands Administrator. The Wetlands Administrator reviews the MDE report and either concurs with it or prepares his own recommendation. The Wetlands Administrator submits the entire record to the Board of Public Works for consideration at a Board meeting.

Expedited Licenses

The Wetlands Administrator may directly issue an expedited license if he concurs with the Maryland Department of the Environment's determination that an "emergency condition or undue hardship" exists. After the license is issued, the Administrator will submit the record to the Board for the Board to affirm or revoke the license.

US Army Corps of Engineers

For information on federal licensing procedures, see the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Web site.