The Section 408 Program

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 408 program allows another party, such as a local government, company, or individual, to alter a USACE Civil Works project. Given the widespread locations of these projects, many embedded within communities, over time there may be a need to either alter or occupy these projects and their associated lands. Reasons for alterations could include improvements to the projects, relocation of part of the project, or installing utilities or other non-project features.

Examples of projects that need USACE Section 408 permission include:

  • Running a water main from one side of a levee to the other.
  • Adding hydropower to a dam.
  • Building a bridge across a navigable waterway maintained and surveyed by USACE.
  • Building a swimming pool in a backyard, within the footprint of the USACE easement for a levee.

The Section 408 program verifies that changes to authorized USACE Civil Works projects will not be injurious to the public interest and will not impair the usefulness of the project. This requirement was established in Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which has since been amended several times, and is codified at 33 U.S.C. 408–the section of U.S. Code that gives the program its name.

Section 408: Resources for Getting Started

If you are looking for information about how to navigate the Section 408 program, these resources are for you. During the program’s Summer 2022 Listening Session Series, stakeholders and Section 408 coordinators from USACE districts across the country asked for tools to help guide them through the ins and outs of seeking permission to alter a USACE Civil Works project—especially for those who are new or unfamiliar with program processes.

The following materials were designed with this feedback in mind:

  • Section 408 & You – an overview of Section 408 and the process of seeking a permission.
  • Seven Questions for Section 408 Success – a short guide with questions for permission seekers to consider as they begin their request to the program.
  • Section 408 Pre-Application Meeting Guide – a one-page guide designed to help permission seekers get the most out of a pre-application meeting with their Section 408 coordinator.
  • Section 408 Process Guide – an in-depth guide to the program and the process of seeking permission to alter a Civil Works project from start to finish.
  • Find your Section 408 Point of Contact – search for the location of your proposed project on the map, then click on “Civil Works District Boundary” to see the contact information for your Section 408 Coordinator.

These materials are a great place to start—and for even more information, please see the section below, “Who can I talk with about a Section 408 request?” to get connected with a Section 408 coordinator.

Who can I talk with about a Section 408 request?

USACE Where We Are Graphic
Click to view the full USACE locations map.
Section 408 Status Request Graphic

Click to view the status of   your Section 408 request

If you are considering making alterations to a USACE Civil Works project, such as a levee, dam, or navigable waterway, we encourage you to check out your USACE district’s webpage for information on their Civil Works projects or contact your USACE district’s Section 408 coordinator as soon as possible. A pre-application meeting can be helpful to understand the requirements.

Your district Section 408 coordinator can confirm whether a Section 408 request is needed and answer any questions you have about the process of submitting a request. Contact information for district Section 408 coordinators can be found via USACE district webpages. Once your request has been submitted, you may view the status of your Section 408 request and/or Regulatory permit via the USACE Regulatory and Section 408 Publicly Available Data.

Where can I find more information about Section 408?

The links below provide more in-depth information about Section 408 and the Section 408 program:

For more information, or if you have any questions about Section 408, please email HQ-Section408@usace.army.mil.

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Announcements

Into to how risk assessments are used in Section 408 requests for dams and levees

 

Webinar on Section 408 Risk Assessments

The Section 408 Program recently held a one-hour webinar on January 27th, 2025 which focused on how risk assessments are used to inform decisions on Section 408 requests to alter USACE levees and dams.

In Case You Missed It…

The webinar answered several key questions about risk assessments for the Section 408 program including:

  • What is a risk assessment?
  • When should a risk assessment be performed?
  • What is USACE’s role in a risk assessment?
  • What assistance or training is available to help?

and much more. You are welcome to view the webinar’s slide presentation here.

Please email us if you are interested in or have ideas for future webinar training topics at HQ-Section408@usace.army.mil.