A controversial plan to build a State Department security facility on Maryland`s Eastern Shore is facing additional delays of weeks or months, federal government officials disclosed Thursday.
The proposed training center for diplomats on 2,000 acres of privately owned land in Ruthsburg has been under attack from local residents and environmentalists, who have questioned whether that is the best site for the $100 million-plus project.
In April, federal officials said they expected to release a draft Environmental Assessment of the project in “late spring.”
However, in response to a request from The Baltimore Sun, the State Department and the General Services Administration announced Thursday that the environmental assessment won’t be ready until late July, at the earliest.
Here’s the statement:
The extensive work required to complete a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on the Hunt Ray/Crismer Farms was estimated to be completed by the end of Spring 2010. Additional studies and analysis have extended the Environmental Assessment process for this proposed project. Completion of the draft EA now is planned for Summer 2010, no earlier than July 30th.