Observations on the Corps of Engineers' Draft General Design Memorandum for the Proposed Atlantic Coast of Maryland Hurricane Protection Project

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the Army Corps of Engineers' draft general design memorandum for the proposed Atlantic Coast of Maryland Hurricane Protection Project for Ocean City, Maryland. GAO noted that: (1) the project, intended to provide storm protection and erosion control, involved construction of a recreation beach, construction of a steel bulkhead and a sand dune for damage protection, periodic nourishment of beach sand, and major rehabilitation in case of flood damage; (2) Maryland spent $12 million in state funds to construct the recreation beach; (3) the federal government's 65-percent share of damage protection and periodic nourishment would amount to an estimated cost of $36 million and $99 million, respectively; (4) the Corps estimated that it would spend about $2.6 million on pre-construction engineering and design studies by the end of fiscal year (FY) 1989; (5) the Corps did not include the project in its FY 1990 budget, although it expected the project to be ready for construction by then; and (6) Maryland was primarily responsible for major rehabilitation costs for flood damage, although the Corps could, as a last resort, use its emergency funds for flood damage rehabilitation.