Environment
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) have begun coordination efforts with the state and federal permitting agencies. The permitting agencies have committed to working closely with the Rebuild Team to advance permits in an expedited manner while still adhering to all permitting requirements. Environmental agencies understand the critical nature of the project and are prepared to collaborate on timely approvals.
Categorical Exclusion
On July 23, 2024, MDTA and the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) received key federal environmental approvals for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. FHWA has issued a Categorical Exclusion (CE) classification and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) approval for the I-695 Francis Scott Key Bridge Rebuild Project.
The federal agency determined that because the replacement Key Bridge will be within the former bridge’s right-of-way and have the same capacity of four travel lanes, it is not anticipated to significantly impact community, natural or cultural resources. The approval document can be viewed here. The project will have substantial positive transportation and socioeconomic impacts by restoring a critical link in the interstate system. Specifically, the Rebuild Project:
- will not induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area;
- will not cause any relocations of people or businesses;
- will have no effect on travel patterns from pre-collapse conditions; and
- will not impact historic or park and recreational resources.
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the MDTA conducted a review under Section 106 the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA), a federal law governing stewardship of our nation’s cultural heritage. Section 106 of the NHPA requires federal agencies to take into consideration the effects their actions will have on historic properties. State and local projects using federal funding, or requiring federal approval or permitting, are required to comply with this process. The Section 106 process resulted in the execution of a Programmatic Agreement (PA), which includes commitments to continue consultation, identify historic properties, evaluate effects to historic properties that would result from the project, and ongoing evaluation of findings as design of the new bridge advances. A copy of the PA is available here.
For more information about Section 106 consultation for the project or the PA, please contact
Approvals and Permits
USCG Bridge Permit Modification
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) received a Bridge Permit from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on March 21, 2025 for the rebuild of the Francis Scott Key Bridge carrying I-695 over the Patapsco River. The proposed fixed bridge will have a horizontal clearance of 1,100 feet and a vertical clearance of 230 feet. Since the issuance of the permit, the final alignment of the main span of the bridge has been adjusted 260 feet east of the original alignment to avoid conflicts with large structural components of the original bridge, which are deep below the mudline of the Patapsco River. On September 30, 2025, the USCG published a Public Notice to solicit input from vessel owners and other interested parties on the amended Bridge Permit application. To view the notice and download the response form please visit
https://navcen.uscg.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/bridges/publicNotices/D05_PN09-25_FrancisScottKeyBridge_PatapscoRiver_MD.pdf. Written responses to the Public Notice are to be directed to the contact address noted in the public notice and be received by October 9, 2025.
Forms and comments are to be directed in writing to the contact below and be received by Thursday, October 9, 2025.
USCG Office of Commander
Fifth Coast Guard District
431 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004
Rebuild Permit Applications – Final Alignment Modification
Rebuild Permit Applications – Final Alignment Modification
MDTA has requested to make improvements to the proposed work associated with the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild by obtaining a modification to the tidal Wetlands License 24-WL-0757 and amend the nontidal application for the proposed bridge replacement.
MDTA has submitted an amendment to the Joint Permit Application to reflect current design and to adjust the final alignment of the main span of the bridge 260 feet east of the original alignment to avoid conflicts with the large structural components of the original bridge, which are deep below the mudline of the Patapsco River.
A public informational hearing was held for the application amendment on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at the North Point Edgemere Volunteer Fire Department, 7500 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21219. A poster session was held from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM; and the public informational hearing began at 5:30 PM.
Watch a recording of the public informational hearing here:
View the bridge alignment in the JPA Amendment Public Informational Hearing materials here:
- Public Informational Boards (English)
- Public Informational Boards (Spanish)
- Public Informational Flyer (English)
- Public Informational Flyer (Spanish)
- Comment Form (English)
- Comment Form (Spanish)
The purpose of the public informational hearing was to provide information and answer questions on the amendment to the permit application and to provide the opportunity for members of the public to comment on the final alignment and unavoidable impacts to assist the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in making a determination on the amended application for a Tidal Wetlands License and on issuance of a nontidal wetlands and waterways authorization.
Statements for or against the JPA Amendment to modify the bridge alignment were presented orally at the hearing or submitted in writing to the:
Maryland Department of the Environment
Tidal Wetlands Division
Attn: Matt Wallach
1800 Washington Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland, 21230
Written comments were accepted until September 6, 2025. For more information, contact Matt Wallach at
More information on the JPA amendment can be found on MDE’s website linked below:
In addition, a copy of the JPA Amendment plans and supporting information will be housed in the following locations and will be made available starting August 5, 2025:
- Sollers Point Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, 323 Sollers Point Rd. Dundalk MD 21222
- Enoch Pratt Free Library – Cherry Hill Branch, 606 Cherry Hill Rd, Baltimore, MD 21225
Rebuild Permit Applications – Temporary Piles and Trestle Amendment
Rebuild Permit Applications – Temporary Piles and Trestle Amendment
MDTA has requested a Water Quality Certification and has submitted a Joint Permit Application to authorize construction of a new bridge to replace the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Rebuild Project will include construction of a new bridge in the Patapsco River. It will be located in the same location as the original bridge, following the existing centerline across the river. The new bridge will tie into the existing roadway on both sides of the river and will stay within MDTA’s existing right-of-way.
MDTA has submitted an amendment to the Joint Permit Application to include construction of additional temporary piles and a temporary trestle extending from the northeast and southwest shorelines along the proposed bridge alignment terminating approximately 200 feet from the federal navigation channel.
A public informational hearing was held for the temporary piles and trestle on Monday, December 2, 2024, at the North Point Edgemere Volunteer Fire Department, 7500 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21219. A poster session was held from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM; and the public informational hearing began at 5:30 PM and ended no later than 7:30 PM.
Watch a recording of the temporary piles and trestle public informational hearing here:
View the temporary piles and trestle in the JPA Amendment Public Informational Hearing materials here:
- Public Informational Boards (English)
- Public Informational Boards (Spanish)
- Comment Form (English)
- Comment Form (Spanish)
The purpose of the public informational hearing was to provide information and answer questions on the amendment to the permit application and to provide the opportunity for members of the public to comment on the temporary pile and trestle to assist the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in making a determination on the amended application for a Tidal Wetlands License.
Statements for or against the JPA Amendment to include additional temporary piles and a temporary trestle were presented orally at the hearing or submitted in writing to the:
Maryland Department of the Environment
Tidal Wetlands Division
Attn: Matt Wallach
1800 Washington Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland, 21230
Written comments were accepted until December 17, 2024. For more information, contact Matt Wallach at
More information on the JPA amendment can be found on MDE’s website linked below:
In addition, a copy of the JPA Amendment plans and supporting information will be housed in the following locations and will be made available upon request:
- Sollers Point Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library, 323 Sollers Point Rd. Dundalk MD 21222
- Enoch Pratt Free Library – Cherry Hill Branch, 606 Cherry Hill Rd, Baltimore, MD 21225
USCG Bridge Permit Issued
USCG Bridge Permit Issued
The Maryland Transportation Authority is proposing to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge carrying I-695 over the Patapsco River and requested a Bridge Permit from the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The proposed fixed bridge will have a horizontal clearance of 1,100 feet and a vertical clearance of 230 feet. The USCG issued the Bridge Permit on March 21, 2025.
Rebuild Permit Applications - Water Quality Certification and New Bridge Construction
Rebuild Permit Applications - Water Quality Certification and New Bridge Construction
MDTA has requested a Water Quality Certification and has submitted a Joint Permit Application to authorize construction of a new bridge to replace the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Rebuild Project will include construction of a new bridge in the Patapsco River. It will be located in the same location as the original bridge, following the existing centerline across the river. The new bridge will tie into the existing roadway on both sides of the river and will stay within MDTA’s existing right-of-way.
A public informational hearing was held for the rebuild project on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at the Community College of Baltimore County - Dundalk Campus, 7200 Sollers Point Rd., Baltimore, MD 21222. A poster session was from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM and the public informational hearing began at 5:30 PM and ended no later than 7:30 PM.
Watch a recording of the Rebuild Permit Applications Public Informational Hearing here:
View the Rebuild Permit Applications Public Informational Hearing materials here:
- Public informational boards {English}
- Public informational boards {Spanish}
- Comment Form {English}
- Comment Form {Spanish}
The public informational hearing did not provide information or updates on the Key Bridge Rebuild efforts. Comments were accepted on the Rebuild Permit Applications ONLY.
The purpose of the public informational hearing was to provide information and answer questions on the submitted permit applications and to provide the opportunity for members of the public to comment on the applications to assist the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in making a determination on the applications for Tidal Wetlands License and the request for Water Quality Certification.
Statements for or against this project were presented orally at the hearing or in writing to the:
Maryland Department of the Environment
Tidal Wetlands Division
Attn: Matt Wallach
1800 Washington Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland, 21230
Written comments were accepted until October 1, 2024. For more information contact Matt Wallach at
More information on the permit applications can be found on MDE’s website linked below:
Demolition Permit Applications
Demolition Permit Applications
MDTA has requested a Water Quality Certification and has submitted Joint Permit Applications to authorize the demolition of the stable standing structures comprising the remaining Francis Scott Key Bridge in preparation for bridge reconstruction. The submitted Joint Permit Applications indicate that the demolition project will have temporary tidal waters impacts regulated by the Army Corps of Engineers under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Maryland Department of the Environment. Prior to Section 404 authorization, a Water Quality Certification is required from the state to document the project does not violate state water quality standards.
A public informational hearing was held for the project on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at the Baltimore County Public Library - North Point Branch, 1716 Merritt Blvd., Dundalk, MD 21222. A poster session was from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM and the public informational hearing began at 5:30 PM and ended no later than 7:30 PM.
Watch a recording of the Demolition Permit Applications Public Informational Hearing here:
View the Demolition Permit Applications Public Informational Hearing materials here:
- Public informational boards {English}
- Public informational boards {Spanish}
- Comment Form {English}
- Comment Form {Spanish}
The public informational hearing did not provide information or updates on the Key Bridge Rebuild efforts. Comments were accepted on the Demolition Permit Applications ONLY.
The purpose of the public informational hearing was to provide information and answer questions on the submitted permit applications and to provide the opportunity for members of the public to comment on the applications to assist the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) in making a determination on the applications for Tidal Wetlands License and the request for Water Quality Certification.
Statements for or against this project were presented orally at the hearing or in writing to the:
Maryland Department of the Environment
Tidal Wetlands Division
Attn: Matt Wallach
1800 Washington Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland, 21230
Written comments were accepted until August 15, 2024. For more information contact Matt Wallach at
More information on the permit applications can be found on MDE’s website linked below: