WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced today that it has prepared its proposal to renew and revise 50 nationwide permits for work in wetlands and other waters that are regulated by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. In addition, USACE will propose to issue two new nationwide permits that pertain to authorizing the removal of low-head dams and the construction and maintenance of living shorelines.
The proposal is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register in a few days. A pre-publication copy of the proposal has been posted on the USACE web site at: http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/RegulatoryProgramandPermits/NationwidePermits.aspx
A public comment period on the proposal will begin when the proposal is published in the Federal Register. A separate news release will be issued to announce the publication of the proposal in the Federal Register, and how public comments should be submitted.
The nationwide permits authorize activities that are similar in nature and cause only minimal adverse environmental impacts to aquatic resources separately or on a cumulative basis. Activities range from work associated with aids to navigation and utility lines to residential developments and maintenance activities.
Following the public comment period, USACE will review the comments received and prepare final nationwide permits that will replace the existing set of nationwide permits, which were authorized in 2012.
Additional information about the USACE Regulatory Program can be found at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/RegulatoryProgramandPermits.aspx.
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Release no. 16-005