Maryland Historical Trust Asks DHS for More Information on Whether the Wright Road Relocation Is Part of the Williamsport ICE Project, After Concurring in DHS's No-Effect Finding

reported Not yet re-checked Importance 8/10 ~2 min read 2 sources 3 actors

Opening paragraph

In a letter dated February 10, 2026, the Maryland Historical Trust asked the Department of Homeland Security for more information about the Williamsport ICE project, after the Trust had already concurred in DHS’s proposed no-effect finding. The Trust said it had heard from Washington County residents that it had not been given complete information, that the area of potential effects might be larger than DHS showed, and that the area should include the Wright Road Relocation.

What Happened / Key Facts

The letter, filed as Exhibit C to the State of Maryland’s complaint, says the Trust’s earlier no-effect recommendation went to DHS’s contractor through the Trust’s online e106 system and was conditioned on the information DHS supplied. It then asks how the Wright Road Relocation relates to the ICE project and, if it is part of it, for site plans showing the boundaries and depth of ground disturbance. The Trust said it would then be able to provide “informed and updated findings regarding the complete project’s effects on historic properties.” If the road work is not ancillary to the ICE project, it asked DHS to say so in writing for its project file.

The letter does not use the word objection and does not say it was reopening a closed review; it requests information and defers updated findings. The State’s complaint alleges, on information and belief, that DHS had not responded to the request.

Why This Event Matters

The Trust’s own letter is the primary record of what the February challenge to DHS’s January letter was: residents’ information about the project’s scope and the road relocation, routed through the state historic-preservation office. See 2026-01-12–dhs-ice-section-106-letter-to-maryland-historical-trust-williamsport for the DHS letter it answers.

Broader Context

DHS’s later letters to the county are covered in 2026-03-19–dhs-reopens-williamsport-section-106-consultation-after-objection.

Sources & Citations

[1] Exhibit C to Complaint, State of Maryland v. Noem, No. 1:26-cv-00733 (D. Md.), Doc. 1-4: Maryland Historical Trust letter — U.S. District Court, D. Md. (RECAP copy) · Feb 23, 2026 Tier 1

[2] Complaint, State of Maryland v. Noem, Doc. 1 — Maryland Office of the Attorney General · Feb 23, 2026 Tier 1

Tiers Tier 1 court records & gov docs · Tier 2 established outlets · Tier 3 regional & specialty press · Tier 4 opinion or single-source. Methodology →

Cite this entry

The Cascade Ledger. “Maryland Historical Trust Asks DHS for More Information on Whether the Wright Road Relocation Is Part of the Williamsport ICE Project, After Concurring in DHS's No-Effect Finding.” The Capture Cascade Timeline, February 10, 2026. https://capturecascade.org/event/2026-02-10--maryland-historical-trust-asks-dhs-for-more-information-wright-road-relocation/