Frequently Asked Questions How much clay does the Corps need? In order to complete the current slate of projects in the Hurricane Protection System, the Corps needs over 100 million cubic yards of clay material. What is the price per cubic yard that the Corps pays for clay? The Corps does not currently purchase clay by the cubic yard from individual landowners. In order to sell your clay by the cubic yard to be used on levee projects, you must be on the Government Approved List. Once on the Government Approved List, prospective levee construction contractors may contact you to arrange for the purchase of your clay material. How do I get on the Government Approved List? In order for you to be placed on the Government Approved List, you must submit, and get approval of, a complete Contractor Furnished package. What is in a Contractor Furnished package? A complete Contractor Furnished package includes (but is not limited to,) - a signed right-of-entry (ROE) form, - property description and 2 maps (a vincinity map showing where the property is relative to any major bodies of water and levee alignment, a detailed map that shows the property boundary and studies done within the boundary - boring logs, - Corps-issued wetlands determination and 404 permit (if required), - Threatened & Endangered Species (T&E) letter, - Coastal Zone Management (CZM) letter, - Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), - and cultural investigation report. For additional information regarding these items, please see our Contractors Furnished Documentation Checklist How do I sell my clay directly to the Corps? In order for you to deal directly with the Corps, you must have your land approved as a Government Furnished borrow site. What do I need to do to be approved as a Government Furnished site? To be approved as a Government Furnished site, you simply sign a right-of-entry (ROE) form and the Corps takes care of the rest. The ROE will simply allow the Corps access to your property in order to conduct soil testing, environmental testing, and site analyses. After testing is complete, if the land and soil is deemed suitable, the Corps will request a ROE for construction which will give the Corps the right to begin excavating clay from your property. How much will I get paid for the dirt if my property is a Government Furnished site? Landowners that have Government Furnished sites will be compensated on a per-acreage basis based upon current land values in the area that their property is in. The landowner will enter into negotiations with the Corps’ Real Estate Branch to determine what the fair market value of their land is. For additional information regarding the real estate process, please see our Real Estate Requirements. How do I know if my property is approved? For Contractor Furnished sites, you will receive an official letter from the Corps, along with a map that states your site has been approved for clay excavation to be used for levee building. The map will also clearly show the area of your property that has been cleared by the Corps. For Government Furnished sites, you will have a member of the Borrow Team in constant contact with you throughout the investigative process in order to provide you updates on the status of your property. After all investigations have been completed the Borrow Team will inform you of the status of your property. When will the Corps start digging on my property? For Contractor Furnished sites, there is NO GUARANTEE that clay will ever be excavated from your property. If your site is approved, you will be placed on a Government Approved list along with other landowners. Individual levee building contractors may, or may not, contact you regarding your material. For Government Furnished sites, once the land/material has been approved, the excavation process depends upon individual levee project award dates. As projects are advertised and/or awarded, the need for borrow material will arise, which will signal the impending start of the excavation process. What levee projects will be constructed soon? For information regarding individual levee projects, please visit our Hurricane Protection System (HPS) website