Motion Picture Filming - Permit Request

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Motion Picture Filming - Permit Request » Document List

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park received a request for a filming permit from Fairfax County Films LLC of North Hollywood, California. The film request pertains to the re-enactment of the historic event of General George Washington crossing the Delaware River. The scene will be incorporated into an educational film. The film company requested to use the area of the park near the confluence of the Antietam Creek and the Potomac River. The request involved the staging of equipment, camera locations, personnel support within the park. The re-enactment would involve the use of Durham boats, simulated ice flows and fake snow to recreate the conditions of the December 1776 crossing.

An interdisciplinary team of park staff and other agency representatives has reviewed the proposed project. A special use permit will be issued to govern filming activities within the park. The project, based on meetings with the production company, was reviewed for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The subsequent permit conditions will be followed so that the project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. The project/permit meets Categorical Exclusion # 3.4 D (3) - "Issuance of permits for demonstrations, gatherings, ceremonies, concerts, arts & crafts shows, & so forth, entailing only short-term or readily remediable environmental disturbances."

The Army Corps of Engineers has issued a Section 404 permit to govern river based activities.

The project will take place February 24-26, 2006. The project area is adjacent to the confluence of the Potomac River and the Antietam Creek. Staging for the project has been designated within the Antietam Recreation Drop-off Lot. Approximately 100-150 people affiliated with the film company will be on site for three days. Artificial snow will be manufactured for the movie "set" using equipment from a local ski resort. A range of artificial snow products had been submitted for review, and the snow machine, using water, presented the most environmentally friendly product.

The park will remain open during the project, however, park visitors can expect periodic short-term delays.

Attached are the special use permit conditions that will be in place. Also attached is the Section 404 permit.



Contact Information

For further information about this project, please contact Permit Coordinator, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740.