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County manager Bobby Outten announced on Friday, October 18, 2024 that Dare County’s dredging permits have been officially reinstated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), allowing the Miss Katie’s dredging operations to resume immediately.

“The permits were initially suspended on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, due to concerns raised by data from the dredging operations. Throughout the suspension, Dare County worked closely with USACE to address the issues flagged by the dredge data,” stated a Dare County news release. “Recent meetings and discussions between Dare County and USACE were highly productive and ultimately led to necessary modifications to improve monitoring and response capabilities.”

USACE confirmed the reinstatement of the permits on Friday, stating in an email to Dare County: “After review of the relevant factors and coordination with the appropriate state and federal agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District grants modification of the permit and authorizes you to return to work effective October 18, 2024.”

In addition to third-party oversight by the county’s engineering firm, the updated system will now incorporate additional dredging quality management (DQM) data that displays the authorized dredge box. This enhancement will enable a Dare County employee to monitor the data in real time, helping to quickly address any potential issues in the future, noted the release.

“We appreciate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ collaboration in resolving this matter, and both of us remain committed to keeping the dredge operational,” said Outten. “Our primary goal is to ensure that the channels and inlets are safe and navigable for the local watermen who rely on them.”

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