Portland District Regulatory Branch

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Photo of Bonneville Dam powerhouse — Regulatory

The Regulatory Program is committed to protecting the Nation's aquatic resources and navigation capacity, while allowing reasonable development through fair and balanced decisions. The Portland District Regulatory Branch has jurisdiction over the state of Oregon and southwest Washington ports.

USACE administers Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), regulating activities that may impact wetlands and waters of the United States.

USACE's 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. As an applicant, you can make the permitting process easier by first taking time to consider how your project will impact the environment.

Overview

Contacts

How to apply for a permit

Regulatory Public Notices

WRDA 214

NEXT Renewable Fuels EIS

Cascade Renewable Transmission EIS

Phone: 503-201-0797

Regulatory General Email
PortlandRegulatory@usace.army.mil

Application Email
PortlandPermits@usace.army.mil

All Regulatory Contact Information

Customer Survey

HQ Public Regulatory Data
AJD and Permitting Actions

The Regulatory Request System (RRS) is an online application portal designed to allow you to submit permit applications, pre-application meeting requests, jurisdictional requests, and no permit required requests using easy to follow online submission forms. RRS now also aligns with the Oregon Joint Application Form. In addition, 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.

Click the icon to access the Regulatory Request System.

Do I need a permit?
Filling out my application
Project Review Process
Mitigation

How do I know if I will need a USACE Regulatory permit?
Who should apply for a permit?
How can I design my project to eliminate the need for a USACE Regulatory permit?
What if there's an emergency and I must protect my site/property?
I already have state and local permits, why do I need to get one from USACE Regulatory, too?
What will happen if I do work without getting a permit from USACE Regulatory?
How do I know if there are wetlands on my site/property?
What types of permits does USACE Regulatory issue?
How are "waters of the United States" defined?
How is "fill" defined?
Do I need to talk to USACE Regulatory Branch to conduct debris removal?
How do you determine the location of a water’s boundary?
What are the ordinary / high tide / mean high water lines?
Does bank stabilization require a permit from USACE Regulatory?
Can I place or remove any material, for example trees, into the water or from the streambank without an USACE Regulatory authorization?

How do I submit a permit application?
What application form do I need to use?
What should I include with my application?
Where can I find mailing addresses for owners of adjoining properties?
Where can I find my section, township and range?
Who should sign the application? Who should sign the permit?
What do I do if my information does not fit in the space provided?

How much does a USACE Regulatory permit cost?
How long does it take to get a permit?
When should I apply for a permit?
Alternative site analysis: What is it?
Are extensions available for Nationwide or Regional General permits?
How is a "multi-phase project" defined?
Is there a streamlined Section 401 process for projects with minimal impacts?
Why are state or local agency permits needed to get a USACE Regulatory permit?
What are considerations for permit decisions, appeals, and approved jurisdictional determinations?

Compensatory mitigation: What is it and why am I being asked to provide it?
What is the federal mitigation rule?
What are types of compensatory mitigation?
Where can I find the list of mitigation banks and in-lieu fee sites?
How do I find if credits are available for my proposed project?
What do I include in a mitigation plan?
What are Oregon Functional Assessments and where can I find them?
Where can I find Oregon Department of State Lands wetland mitigation information?
What if I want to start my own mitigation bank or in-lieu fee program?

Related Corps and federal and state agency websites

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Headquarters Regulatory page
USACE Regulatory in-lieu fee and bank tracking system (RIBITS)
USACE Standard Local Operating Procedures for Endangered Species (SLOPES)
U.S. Environmenal Protection Agency (EPA)
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
Oregon Department of State Lands Permits (ODSL)
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ)
Oregon Heritage State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)