U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces closure of all Regulatory offices due to federal government shutdown

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Alaska District announced today it will close its Regulatory offices due to the absence of available federal funding. Regulatory offices will be unable to evaluate individual permit applications, pre-construction notifications (PCNs) for nationwide permit (NWP) or regional general permit authorizations, or requests for jurisdictional determinations until after current year funding is received and the offices re-open.

During this time, should an emergency activity need to be conducted in waters or wetlands that requires a Department of the Army authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, please call 907-753-2505.

Those applying for NWP authorizations are reminded that proposed NWP activities that require PCNs must wait 45 days before beginning the activity (see 33 CFR 330.1(e)). Please note that certain NWP PCNs require a written response from USACE before beginning the NWP activity. More NWP information can be found at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/RegulatoryProgramandPermits/NationwidePermits.aspx.

Prospective applicants should ensure proposed activities comply with all NWP terms and conditions, including regional conditions. They must also obtain other required authorizations, such as Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification or waiver if the proposed activity involves a discharge into waters of the United States, or Coastal Zone Management Act consistency concurrence or waiver if the proposed activity occurs in the coastal zone, prior to conducting NWP activities.

Information about nationwide permits and the general and regional conditions is available at http://www.poa.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Permits.aspx

Regional conditions that have been imposed on the 2012 NWPs are provided at this link http://www.poa.usace.army.mil/Portals/34/docs/regulatory/Final%202012%20NWP%20Regional%20Conditions.pdf

For more information on Alaska District’s Regulatory Program, please visit http://www.poa.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.aspx

                                                                            # # #