Corps Reviewing Permit Conditions

PORTLAND, ORE. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requests the public to comment on proposed changes to regional permit conditions for construction projects in Oregon that impact wetlands and navigable waters of the United States. 

The Corps announced recently it is seeking comments on its proposal to renew and revise 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. Corps division engineers are authorized to add conditions to those permits to meet the needs and requirements of a particular region or state.  

The Portland District is responsible for developing regional conditions to ensure aquatic resources within the state of Oregon are conserved.  Fifty nationwide permits authorize a range of activities in Oregon and contain general and regional conditions.  An example of a regional condition is requiring all in-water work to be conducted during the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s published in-water work window.  

The public can review the initial draft regional conditions at the Portland District’s website at www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Notices/ and clicking on “2017 Nationwide Permits Re-issuance - Regional Conditions.”

Comments on the initial draft regional conditions should be addressed to Portland District, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, Oregon 97208-2946. Comments can also be emailed to Judy Linton at Judy.L.Linton@usace.army.mil.  All comments must be received by Aug. 1, 2016.

Comments on national issues relating to NWPs should be submitted to docket number COE-2015-0017 at www.regulations.gov by email to NWP2017@usace.army.mil, or by mail to Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Directorate of Civil Works, ATTN: CECW-CO-R, 441 G Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20314-1000.  Instructions for submitting comments are provided in the June 1, 2016, Federal Register notice.  Comments on the proposed NWPs are due by Aug. 1, 2016.

The Corps issues nationwide permits designed to streamline authorization of projects that are similar in nature and cause only minimal adverse environmental impacts to aquatic resources, such as commercial developments, utility lines or road improvements. These permits are authorized for a five-year period. The current nationwide permits became effective on March 19, 2012, and are scheduled to be modified, reissued, or revoked prior to March 18, 2017.