Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States’; Conforming was published in the Federal Register on September 8, 2023. View the Corps announcement 8 September 2023 - EPA and the Army Issue Final Rule to Amend 2023 Rule and related announcements about Waters of the United States (WOTUS) on the the USACE Headquarters Regulatory Announcements page.

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Related laws

Clean Water Act, Section 402
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
Deepwater Port Act of 1974
Federal Power Act of 1920
Fish & Wildlife Coordination Act
Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act
Marine Mammal Protection Act
Marine Protection Research & Sanctuaries Act of 1972, Section 302
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
National Environmental Policy Act
National Fishing Enhancement Act of 1984
Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Act of 1980
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953 (as amended)
Wild & Scenic Rivers Act

Related Regulations

36 CFR Part 800-899 - Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
40 CFR Part 22 - Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties and the Revocation or Suspension of Permits
40 CFR Part 230 – Clean Water Act Implementing Regulations and 404(b)(1) Guidelines
40 CFR Part 233 - State Program Regulations
40 CFR Part 233G - Tribal Regulations
40 CFR Part 1500 et seq - Council on Environmental Quality
50 CFR Parts 400-499 - Endangered Species Regulations
50 CFR Part 600 - Essential Fish Habitat Regulations

Submitting a Joint Permit Application (JPA), Jurisdiction Determination (JD) or Pre-Application meeting

The Regulatory Request System is a new online application portal designed to allow you to submit permit applications, pre-application meeting requests, and jurisdictional requests using easy to follow online submission forms. Applicants can track the status of their projects using a user-friendly dashboard. Users are required to create an account using LOGIN.GOV for online submittals and to receive status updates.

To access the Regulatory Request System, click the icon below.

Regulatory Request System Icon in bold letters

For more information, see the public notice (found here: https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Projects/Article/3661720/31-january-2024-usace-launches-new-regulatory-request-system/ ) or visit the online portal at the following website: rrs.usace.army.mil

How to apply for a permit

The Corps' responsibilities and your responsibilities
Before a permit is issued or verified, the Corps must ensure that we've met all of our obligations under any related federal and state laws. The amount and complexity of any additional information needed depends on the project type and location. This means the Corps may ask for more information from the applicant, or the applicant may need to give more information to another agency. In some cases, it's solely the applicant’s responsibility to obtain other authorizations. When related to the Corps authorization, the Corps will inform you of other agencies’ requirements as soon as possible and work with you to fulfill those requirements as expeditiously as possible. For information on recent updates to our program, as well as public outreach, visit our Projects, News and Updates page.

If your project may impact a federally authorized project you may also need a Section 408 review.
Some examples of federally authorized projects include navigation channels, levees, dams, sea walls, jetties and wetland restoration projects. Learn about the Section 408 process that allows alteration to a federally authorized project.

Projects that require permits from the Corps and Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL)
The joint permit application allows you to complete one permit application that satisfies both agencies’ requirements.
Joint Permit Application

Projects that require a Corps permit only
If your project does not require a permit from the DSL you may complete the application for a Corps permit only. However, if you prefer, you can use the Joint Permit Application found in the section above.
Corps’ Permit Application

Projects that require Corps Nationwide Permit verification only
If your project does not require a permit from the DSL and you are submitting for potential Nationwide Permit verification, you may complete the Corps-only pre-construction notification form.
Pre-Construction Notification Form (If you receive an error opening in your browser, right-click to save to your computer)

Required drawings when submitting an application
A permit application must include the following drawings in the correct format (see drawing format requirements below):
• Location map
• Site plan
• Cross-section drawings

The Corps may require a wetland delineation, which is document that clearly defines the boundaries of any waters that might be affected. It includes all wetlands, streams and other bodies of water in your project area. Completing a wetland delineation requires expertise and may require professional assistance. Contact your local Corps office for more information on wetland delineations.

Drawing format requirements
All drawings should be clear, legible and formatted to fit an 8-1/2 by 11 inch sheet.
Use the fewest number of sheets necessary.
Permit Application Drawing Requirements
Permit Applications Drawing Checklist

Portland Harbor Projects
Permit applicants who are planning projects in or near Portland Harbor should review the Portland Harbor Permitting Guide (2.5 MB pdf). The Corps, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed this guide to enhance interagency coordination when reviewing permit applications. It provides information to help permit applicants:

• Understand the agencies’ permitting processes
• Understand various permit requirements
• Identify some potential permitting hurdles
• Provide technical resources that support best practices when designing projects

Sediment Evaluation Framework
The SEF provides regional guidance for the characterization and assessment of dredged sediment and potential water quality impacts that may occur during dredging. The SEF describes procedures for the evaluation of potential contaminant-related environmental impacts of dredging and the aquatic disposal of dredged material in inland waters (regulated under the Clean Water Act [CWA]) and the transport and disposal of dredged material in ocean waters (regulated under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act [MPRSA]). The Regional Sediment Evaluation Team agencies prepared the SEF for use in the Pacific Northwest, defined here as the States of Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The SEF is periodically revised and updated to account for advances in regulatory practice and technical understanding.

The May 2018 SEF can be downloaded at the following website: http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental-Stewardship/DMM/

Submitting your Corps permit application

NOTE: non-permit application submittals (such as delineation review requests or jurisdictional determinations) can be sent to PortlandPermits@usace.army.mil.

The preferred method to submit your Corps permit application is electronically.
All electronic documents should be submitted as Adobe Acrobat PDF files.

Application packages under 20 MB can be sent via email.
Do not send links to cloud storage, such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
Sending application packages directly to a project manager can delay processing through our system.

Send application packages only to PortlandPermits@usace.army.mil.
We request applicants reduce the total file size as much as possible prior to submission.

Application packages over 20MB require the use of DoD SAFE to transfer files.
To request a SAFE file transfer link please send an email specifying the county where the project is located to PortlandPermits@usace.army.mil.

Hardcopy applications and documents can also be mailed to the appropriate office on a CD or DVD.

USACE Portland District
Attn: CENWP-OD-G
P.O. Box 2946
Portland, OR 97208-2946
  USACE Eugene Field Office
211 E. Seventh Avenue,
Suite 105
Eugene, OR 97401-2722

 

How to request a jurisdictional determination

The Corps can also provide a determination of whether or not waters at your project site are jurisdictional.  Please be advised that you do not need to request a jurisdictional determination (JD) before applying for a permit.  We confirm jurisdiction when processing permit applications.  Typical reasons for requesting a jurisdictional determination are: Is Corps jurisdiction over the wetlands or other waters questionable?  Do you need concurrence on wetland boundaries?

If you would like to request a jurisdictional determination only, please complete and submit this form JD Request Form.  Along with the form, submit a wetlands and other waters delineation of the site and clearly indicate on drawings the area within which you are requesting a review.  Delineations need to be less than five years old and follow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (and any related supplements).

You can submit your jurisdictional determination request in the same way as a permit application – see “Submitting your Corps permit application” just above.

For more information on jurisdiction and completing waters delineations, please visit our Jurisdiction page; https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Jurisdiction/

 

The Different Types of Permits

The Corps has two types of Department of the Army permits: General Permits and Individual Permits

GENERAL PERMITS
General permits authorize activities that are similar in nature and cause only minimal adverse environmental impacts to aquatic resources, separately or on a cumulative basis.
There are two types of general permits: Nationwide Permits and Regional General Permits.

• Nationwide Permits
Nationwide Permits are issued by the Corps on a national basis and are designed to streamline Department of the Army authorization of projects such as commercial developments, utility lines or road improvements that impact the nation's aquatic environment.

To ensure activities authorized by Nationwide Permits cause only minimal adverse environmental effects, Corps division engineers are authorized to add regional conditions to protect local aquatic ecosystems. Nationwide Permits are proposed, issued, modified, reissued or extended, and revoked from time to time, after the opportunity for public notice and comment.

An activity may be authorized under a Nationwide Permit only if it meets both the national and regional conditions of the permit, including compliance with the Endangered Species Act and any special conditions added by the Corps. If the Corps finds that the proposed activity would have more than minimal individual or cumulative net adverse impact on the environment, or may be contrary to the public interest, you would need to modify your proposal to reduce or eliminate those adverse effects, or apply for a Standard Individual Permit.

• Regional General Permits
A Regional General Permit is issued for a specific geographic area by an individual Corps District. Each Regional General Permit has specific terms and conditions, all of which must be met for project-specific actions to be verified.

If your project does not comply with all of the terms and conditions, authorization may be granted by another type of Department of the Army permit, however, the process will likely take longer. Therefore, to expedite review of your application, we recommend modifying projects to meet all terms and conditions of the applicable RGP.

 

INDIVIDUAL PERMITS
Individual Permits are for activities that do not fit the requirements for a Nationwide Permit or Regional General Permit. There are two types of Individual Permits: Standard Individual Permits and Letters of Permission.

• Standard Individual Permits
A Standard Individual Permit is required for activities having more than minimal impacts and/or for activities that do not qualify for a Nationwide Permit or Regional General Permit. An important distinction between an Individual Permit and a Nationwide Permit or Regional General Permit is the public interest review requirement. Nationwide Permits and Regional General Permits undergo public review as part of their development process; however, project-specific actions can be authorized by Nationwide Permit or Regional General Permit without further public review.

A Standard Individual Permit is subject to the public interest review process on a project-specific basis. A public notice will be issued for a Standard Individual Permit application to allow federal, state and local agencies, adjacent property owners and the general public an opportunity to review and comment on the plan or to request a public hearing. Applications involving public notices are typically completed within four to six months. However, some complex activities, issues or legal requirements may require additional review and take more time.

• Letter of Permission
A Letter of Permission is a type of Individual Permit issued through a more streamlined process. Letters of Permission are typically for activities subject to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act only. Individual Corps districts may develop Letter of Permissions applicable for work subject to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act after coordinating with state and federal agencies and allowing the opportunity for public comment.

A letter of permission may be issued for projects where proposed work would be minor, would not have significant individual or cumulative impacts on environmental values, and isn’t expected to encounter appreciable opposition. These types of projects usually include minor dredging and construction, maintenance, or replacement of piers, mooring buoys, piles, or floats. Compliance reviews under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act still apply for a letter of permission.

EMERGENCY AND EXPEDITED PERMITS
The Corps characterizes an emergency as a situation which would result in an unacceptable hazard to life, a significant loss of property, or an immediate, unforeseen and significant economic hardship if no action is taken. In these situations, the District Engineer can authorize expedited reviews of permit applications.

You must notify the Corps of the need to perform emergency work before taking any action, if possible. Call the Corps Regulatory Project Manager for your county as soon as possible to discuss the situation. Alternatively, you can contact the Portland or Eugene Section chief for assistance.

The Corps has the responsibility to determine if the proposed work is consistent with the Corps' definition of an emergency, whether authorization is needed, and if so, which type of authorization is required. Unauthorized work may be subject to enforcement action.

The Corps may not view an action as an emergency if the applicant has known of the deficient condition of the failing structure and has not made reasonable attempts to secure appropriate permits and conduct timely repairs. Emergency declarations by the state or a county government do not mean all repair activities qualify as emergency situations.

All permit reviews, including emergency reviews, require coordination with tribes and state and federal agencies. In an emergency, reasonable effort will be made to receive comments from interest groups and others who may be affected by the action.

 

FEES AND COSTS
There are no fees for general permits and letters of permission issued by the Corps. The following fees apply when a project has been approved and a Standard Individual Permit is issued by the Corps and accepted by the applicant:

• $10 for individuals (non-commercial activities)
• $100 for businesses (commercial and industrial activities)
• No fees are charged to governmental agencies

How the permit process works

Permit applications received by the Corps of Engineers are given identification numbers and reviewed for completeness. A request for additional information may be sent if necessary. For standard individual permit reviews, a public notice initiating a 15- or 30-day public comment period will be issued within 15 days of receiving all the required information. After the comment period, the Corps will review all of the comments. The Corps may ask for additional information at this time and a public hearing may be conducted if one has been specifically requested or determined to be necessary. For all projects, the Corps will consult with other state and federal agencies and Native American tribes as appropriate. When all considerations are satisfied, the District Engineer will make a decision to either issue or deny the permit application. If a permit is denied, the applicant will receive a written explanation.

The Corps’ goal is to decide on all applications within 60 days after receipt of a complete application for minor permits and 120 days for individual permits, unless: a decision is precluded as a matter of law or procedures required by law; the case must be referred to higher authority; the comment period of a public notice is extended; a timely submittal of information or comments is not received from the applicant; the processing is suspended at the request of the applicant; or information needed by the district engineer for a decision on the application cannot reasonably be obtained within the 60- or 120-day period.

Upon receipt of your permit application, you will be sent an acknowledgement of receipt and a Corps reference number specific to your file. You should refer to this number when inquiring about your application. If your application is incomplete, the Corps will request the additional information needed to continue its review. The project will be reviewed, balancing the need and expected benefits against the probable impacts of the work, taking into consideration all comments received and other relevant factors.

Permit Regulations

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers receives its authority from the following federal laws:

Section 10 of the Rivers & Harbors Act of 1899
Requires approval prior to the accomplishment of any work in or over navigable waters of the United States, or work which affects the course, location, condition or capacity of such waters. Projects typically requiring Section 10 permits include construction of piers, wharves, bulkheads, dolphins, marinas, ramps, floats intake structures, and cable or pipeline crossings; dredging and excavation; and Overhead transmission lines, tunnels, or directional bore holes.

Section 14 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
33 USC 408 (commonly referred to as “Section 408”), authorizes the Secretary of the Army, on the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), to grant permission for the alteration or occupation or use of a USACE civil works project if the Secretary determines that the activity will not be injurious to the public interest and will not impair the usefulness of the project.

The following websites may help clarifying if your project is near a USACE civil works project:
USACE Project Locations Map
National Levee Database

For more information and to begin the application process for a Section 408 review, visit our Section 408 webpage.

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
Requires approval prior to discharging dredged or fill material into the waters of the United States. The Clean Water Act aims to protect the physical, chemical and biological integrity of water quality in the United States. Increased surface runoff from development has the potential to cause significant changes in aquatic ecosystems. Discharges of runoff may carry pollutants such as eroded soil, oil, metals, and pesticides that adversely affect oceans, streams, wetlands, lakes, and groundwater.

Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, & Sanctuaries Act of 1972
As amended (33 U.S.C. 1413), authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to issue permits for the transportation of dredged material for the purpose of dumping it into ocean waters.


Other laws which affect our program: Some projects will require additional evaluation under other related laws and regulations. The lists below are not exhaustive. They are provided to make you aware of other laws which affect our program. Some of these laws apply regularly and some of them are rarely applicable.

Section 401 of the Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act (CWA) gives states and authorized Native American Tribes the authority to grant, deny, or waive certification of proposed federal licenses or permits that may discharge into waters of the United States. Under Section 401 of the CWA, a federal agency may not issue a permit or license to conduct any activity that may result in any discharge into waters of the United States unless a Section 401 water quality certification is issued, or certification is waived. States and authorized Native American Tribes where the discharge would originate are generally responsible for issuing water quality certifications.  In cases where a state or tribe does not have authority, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for issuing certification. The Section 401 certification can cover both the construction and operation of the proposed project. Conditions of the Section 401 certification become conditions of the permit issued by the Corps. Section 404 permits generally require Section 401 water quality certifications. Section 10 permits may also require Section 401 water quality certifications.

When you apply for a permit from the Corps, you are often required to obtain a Section 401 water quality certification from the certifying authority.  The Section 401 certification is generally conducted at the same time as the Corps’ review.  To apply for a Section 401 certification, contact the applicable certifying authority.  The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is typically the certifying authority unless the project is located where a Native American Tribe or the EPA is the certifying authority.

For additional information on Section 401 visit:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Section 401 webpage
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's Section 401 webpage

Endangered Species Act
The purpose of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is to protect and recover many of our nation’s native plant and animal species that are in danger of becoming extinct. This protection extends to the habitats upon which they depend. The ESA is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The USFWS consults on birds, terrestrial animals, plants, amphibians and most freshwater fish. The NMFS consults on salmon, marine fish, marine mammals and marine reptiles.

When a proposed project will affect a species listed under the Endangered Species Act, the Corps is required to consult with the NMFS and/or the USFWS and cannot issue a permit until that consultation is complete. A Corps tool designed to expedite the consultation is called Standard Local Operating Procedures for Endangered Species (SLOPES). SLOPES allows for a streamlined formal consultation process by timing projects to avoid critical life history windows; by minimizing aquatic resource, species and designated critical habitat impacts; and by improving the environmental baseline through site-specific habitat improvements. The SLOPES related documents are posted in the gray box below titled Biological opinions and letters of concurrence.

Cultural resources and historic properties
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties. A Department of the Army permit is considered to be such a federal undertaking. Historic properties, commonly referred to as cultural resources, are archaeological sites, historic districts, buildings or structures, and traditional cultural properties that are included in the National Register of Historic Places, or meet the criteria for inclusion in the National Register. The term encompasses artifacts, records and human burials related to and located within such properties. If there are indications your project has the potential to effect historic properties, you may be asked to complete a cultural resource assessment, which may include a historic property or cultural resource survey.

Federal trust responsibilities
The federal government’s unique relationship with Native American tribes is embodied in the U.S. Constitution, treaties, court decisions, federal statues and executive orders. Native American treaties are not a granting of rights, but a protection and preservation of land and certain rights retained by the tribes when they sign treaties. Treaties with tribes are equal to federal laws passed by Congress. As a federal agency the Corps has federal trust responsibility to ensure that Native American rights reserved by treaties are not compromised as part of our permit application review.

Pre-application consultation

A permit application requires a clear description of the proposed project, to include drawings, maps and other supporting documents. One of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ goals is to help you understand what you should be thinking about while you’re planning and designing your project, before you apply for a permit. Something as easy as changing the types of materials you propose to use, or the time of year you plan to do the work can affect the time it takes to review your permit application.

The easiest way to ensure your project complies with state and federal agency requirements is to find out what they are when you are planning your project and incorporate design elements that minimize environmental impact. This often expedites the permitting process. If you want to set up a pre-application meeting when planning of your project, contact your local Corps Regulatory project manager.

Permit evaluation factors

Regulatory program mission
The mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Regulatory offices is to protect the nation’s aquatic resources, while allowing reasonable development through fair, flexible and balanced permit decisions. The Corps’ permit application process gives applicants the opportunity to demonstrate that they have avoided and minimized impacts to waters of the United States as much as possible.

The following general criteria will be considered in the evaluation of every application:
• the relative extent of the public and private need for the proposed activity;
• the practicability of using reasonable alternative locations and methods to accomplish the objective of the proposed activity;
• the extent and permanence of the beneficial and/or detrimental effects which the proposed activity is likely to have on the public and private uses to which the area is suited.

Benefits and detriments are balanced by considering effects on:
Aesthetics
Conservation
Consideration of Property Ownership
Economics
Energy Needs
Fish and Wildlife Values
Flood Hazards
  Floodplain Values
Food and Fiber Production
General Environmental Concerns
Historic Properties
Land Use
Mineral Needs
Navigation
  Needs and Welfare of the People
Recreation
Safety
Shoreline Erosion and Accretion
Water Quality
Water Supply and Conservation
Wetlands

Using the RRS

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