Navigating the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Process · PDF fileNavigating the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Process Angela Ryan ... Flood Plain Values & Flood
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US Army Corps of Engineers
BUILDING STRONG®
JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT
Navigating the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
Regulatory Process
Angela Ryan
Biologist
Tampa Permits Section
May 16, 2012
BUILDING STRONG®
Regulatory Mission
To protect the Nation’s aquatic
resources, while allowing reasonable
development through fair, flexible and
balanced permit decisions.
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Authority Authority Geographic Activity
Section 10, Rivers
and Harbors Act of
1899
Navigable
Waters of
U.S.
All Structures or Work.
(the construction, excavation, or
deposition of materials in, over,
or under such waters, or any
work which would affect the
course, location, condition, or
capacity of those waters.).
Section 404 Clean
Water Act of 1977
Waters of
U.S., e.g.
wetlands and
streams
Discharge of dredged
or fill material.
Section 103,
Marine Protection,
Research and
Sanctuaries Act
Ocean
Transportation of
dredged material for
the purpose of disposal
in the ocean.
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Jurisdiction in Tidal Waters
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Types of Permits
Individual Permit (IP)
► Public Notice (PN)
► Full project review procedure
Letter of Permission (LOP)
► Abbreviated permit procedure
► Coordination letter in lieu of a public notice
► Minor Impacts
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General Permits
Regional General Permits (GP) ► Specific approach for specific area
► Conditions deal with area issues
Programmatic General Permits (PGP) ► Take advantage of similar program
► Reduce regulatory duplication
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2012 Nationwide Permits
(NWP) 50 NWPs
WQC is now required for all NWP’s
Pre-Construction Notification may be required
Subject to Discretionary Authority
Subject to Corps Mitigation Rule
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Navigating the Review
Process
Joint Permit App
Submittal to State
App Received from
State
Begin Processing Completeness
Determination and
Public Notice
Corps
Individuals
Special Interests
Local Agencies
Federal Agencies
Application
Reviewed
404(b)(1) Guidelines
2008 Mitigation Rule
Public Interest Review
NEPA, ESA, NHPA, EFH
State & Territorial
Certifications
(CZM, WQC)
Application
Approved
Application
Denied
Decision
Document
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Public Interest Review
21 Factors, including: ► Conservation ► Economics ► Wetlands ► Fish And Wildlife Values ► Flood Plain Values & Flood Hazards ► Water Supply And Conservation ► Land Use ► Navigation ► General Environmental Concerns ► Safety ► Historic and Cultural ► Shore Erosion and Accretion
The Corps Issues A Permit Unless The Corps Determines That The Project Is Contrary To The Public Interest
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404(b)(1) Guidelines
Project Purpose ►Sequential Process
• Avoidance
• Minimization
• Compensation
Corps determines least environmentally damaging practicable alternative
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NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act
Ensures consideration of environmental
impacts and alternatives for federal
actions
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)
►Environmental Assessments
►Environmental Impact Statements
Categorical Exclusions
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2008 Corps Mitigation Rule
Established a mitigation hierarchy
All mitigation proposals must contain the
12 Objectives e.g., baseline data, site
selection and performance standards
Emphasis on type for type replacement of
aquatic resources
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Section 10 Important Issues
Endangered Species Act (ESA)
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Act -
Essential Fish Habitat (EFH)
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA)
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
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Section 10 Important Issues
Understand sensitive time periods, e.g.
seagrass survey time periods, sea turtle
nesting season, manatee season,
fisheries spawning or migration seasons
and other biologically critical time periods.
Be familiar with construction guidelines
and conditions associated with ESA and
EFH
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Case Studies
Single Family Dock
Section 10 - RGP SAJ-20
No PN and programmatic concurrence for
ESA
Project plans, adherence to Manatee
Construction Conditions and requirement
for As-Builts
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Case Studies
Mangrove Restoration
Jurisdiction: Section 10 and 404
Permit verified as a NWP 27
10 acres of tidal mangrove wetlands
restoration through plantings and mosquito
ditch blocks with fill
Corps review: PI, NEPA, ESA, EFH,
NHPA, and WQC/CZM
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Case Studies
Multi-slip Marina
Section 10, LOP
LOP Coordination Letter required
PI, ESA, EFH, NHPA, WQC/CZM
Exceeds dock density threshold?
Recommended for Denial
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Case Studies
Channel Dredging
Section 10, IP
PN Required
PI, NEPA, EFH, ESA, NHPA, WQC/CZM
Unavoidable impact of 0.01 acre seagrass,
requires type for type mitigation
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Expedite Permit Review: Prepare Complete Applications
Most common insufficiencies which
extend permit review timeframes:
► No latitude and longitude
► Oversized drawings (11x17)
► Color drawings which are not reproducible
► Adjacent property owners list not included
► Endangered species surveys, cultural resources
► Impacted vegetation description
► Inadequate information for commenting agencies
► Lack of avoidance and minimization statements
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Recommendations
►All drawings on 8½ X 11 paper, use match lines if needed
►Clear plan view and cross section
►Use a different cross hatch for dredge and fill
►List of adjacent property owners, only those abutting impact areas and interested parties
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Recommendations
► Pre- and post-development site table with impacts
► Avoidance and minimization narrative
(project purpose, alternative alignment
analysis, minimization strategies, Quality
Enhancement Strategies)
► Mitigation plan consistent with 2008 Mitigation
Rule - include UMAM analysis or other functional
assessment
► Multiple copies of submittal for large scale
projects
BUILDING STRONG®
Regulatory Program
Sourcebook:
www.saj.usace.army.mil/Divisions/Regulatory/sourcebook.htm
THANK YOU!
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