Permits for Cleaning Out Pond.

[scesnick]

Well, I have come to the conclusion that I just need to get a piece of equipment in my pond to clean it out. So, I had a few contractors come give me an estimate.
since I live in the "Marylandistan" just about all the contractors said I should not even apply for a permit. The claimed that the state would get the Army Corps of Engineers up to totally screw up my pond all in the name of wetand management. They also said that if I get get a permit somehow it would cost a small fortune.
They said I should just lock my gate, clean out the pond and take my chances

Well, after thinking it over I decided to call my local NRCS office ( without giving my name) and ask them what the scoop really is. Boy, and I glad I did. the guys at NRCS were great. They explained that since my pond was an existing pond i had nothing to worry about and that the permit was free. No one is even gonna come and inspect the work done. The guys at NRCS even gave me a few contractors names who have experience in cleaning out ponds in my area.
Needless to say I was shocked by this whole experience. Especially since we are talking about the state of Maryland, even though the NRCS is a federal office.

BTW- the permit is free but if you decide to forego the permit and get caught??? roughly 10k in fines !!!!!!

 

[RobertBrown]

Things are a lot different here.
I wouldnt even consider getting a permit to clean out my pond. There is no legislation for that type water body here. If it was a creek or connected to one then that's a big deal.
Seems like you would be better off not getting them involved if you have the nads for it.
Notifying them might engage some other agency and they might decide to open up some revenue stream the no one counted on.

 

[Rusty]

BTW- the permit is free but if you decide to forego the permit and get caught??? roughly 10k in fines !!!!!!

scesnick - Just a word of caution, will the NRCS notify any other federal, state, county, or local agencies that may also require permits/fees/inspections/modifications?

I had a 1/4 acre pond dug in 1993 to provide fill for around my house and barn. This required a building permit and a special use permit (complete with public hearing and certified mail notification of property owners within 300 feet of all my property lines) from my township, plus a federal permit issued by my county. Several state agencies also then took an interest.

Best wishes!

BTW, my Mother is originally from Meyersdale, PA which just a little north of you on 219. Do you work at the correctional facility at Somerset?

 

[scesnick]

Rusty,
I asked that exact question and they said digging a new pond is a whole different ballgame. New construction would require a lot more involvement with a whole host of state, and county offices. ( especially in this regulation happy state).

Existing ponds are much, much easier to do any type of maintenance on with much less hassle from big brother.

I do not work at the Somerset Facility although I do drive by it frequently. I work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

 

[300UGUY]

Well, I have come to the conclusion that I just need to get a piece of equipment in my pond to clean it out. So, I had a few contractors come give me an estimate.
since I live in the "Marylandistan" just about all the contractors said I should not even apply for a permit. The claimed that the state would get the Army Corps of Engineers up to totally screw up my pond all in the name of wetand management. They also said that if I get get a permit somehow it would cost a small fortune.
They said I should just lock my gate, clean out the pond and take my chances

Well, after thinking it over I decided to call my local NRCS office ( without giving my name) and ask them what the scoop really is. Boy, and I glad I did. the guys at NRCS were great. They explained that since my pond was an existing pond i had nothing to worry about and that the permit was free. No one is even gonna come and inspect the work done. The guys at NRCS even gave me a few contractors names who have experience in cleaning out ponds in my area.
Needless to say I was shocked by this whole experience. Especially since we are talking about the state of Maryland, even though the NRCS is a federal office.

BTW- the permit is free but if you decide to forego the permit and get caught??? roughly 10k in fines !!!!!!

I know some contractors here that always want to work for cash, thus no permits. Notice that you would have been responsible for the fines, not the contractor. Most that I have met have reasons for staying off the books - usually unpaid child support, back taxes or a ex wife. Some of them all 3.

 

[forgeblast]

Mike Holmes: A building permit is not a cash grab

Mike Homes of the hgtv show talking about permits.

 

[westcliffe01]

What a crock. Because the "county building inspector" signs off it means that all is good with the workmanship ??? I have a signoff for the electrical install in my house and none of it was meeting code. The installer even had cable outlets and 110v in the same box ??

These inspectors are just another person with a nice pay check and retirement benefits that we have to pay and could care less about you and your house. In many cases the same people have had the same jobs in the same county for the last 30 years. Obviously there are better and worse inspectors, but the main thing is that you add another several % on to the cost of your house and the county assessor gets updated so that they charge you as much property tax as they dare to make up for all the abandoned homes in the state for which they get no revenue whatsoever.