EDGEMOOR — The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has issued two authorizations to the Diamond State Port Corp. for its redevelopment of the former Chemours industrial site as a shipping container facility.

DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin signed an order Thursday approving a subaqueous lands permit and a federal consistency certification.

The plant site, at 4600 Hay Road in Edgemoor, was sold by Chemours to DSPC in 2017. The plant was demolished prior to the sale, and all applicable permits were transferred to DSPC.

DNREC held a hearing Sept. 29, 2020, so the public could provide comment on the proposed project. More than 50 residents attended the hearing, and DNREC acknowledged the high interest by extending the comment period through Dec. 1, 2020. DNREC received nearly 200 comments.

The subaqueous lands permit issued Thursday by the DNREC Division of Water authorizes DSPC to build a 112-by-2,600-foot wharf, dredge the berth and access channel to a depth of 45 feet below mean low water and install 3,200 feet of bulkhead along the shoreline.

The second authorization, a federal consistency certification required from the DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy, concurs that the activities associated with the project comply with the policies of the Delaware Coastal Management Program.

The authorizations require compensatory mitigation, including to offset the filling of some subaqueous lands belonging to the state as part of the construction of the container port.

The mitigation required includes:

• Constructing over an acre of intertidal wetland habitat along the Delaware River.
• Funding an environmental DNA fisheries monitoring program for the state.
• Creating public access to the Delaware River at Fox Point State Park.

The secretary’s approval of both applications concludes that DSPC has adequately demonstrated compliance with the requirements of the statutes.

It has submitted the requisite compensatory mitigation plan for the filling of 5.5 acres of subaqueous state lands related to the proposed construction and is working with the department to assure all commitments are met.

DNREC has concluded that the certifications issued Thursday are appropriately conditioned to ensure continued protection of public health and the environment.