News and Updates

 

Latest News:

On April 14th, 2025, USACE issued a Special Public Notice (SPN) announcing the development of special emergency processing procedures for activities subject to Executive Order 14156, Declaring a National Energy Emergency.  The SPN, along with the associated "Alaska District SOP for Processing of Permit Applications in Emergency Situations Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 14156 and 33 CFR 325.2(e)(4), 26 March 2025", are posted on the Special Public Notice page.  

On October 10th 2024 the USACE issued a Special Public Notice, Pacific Ocean Division Regulatory Action Prioritization, See Special Public Notice page for details.

WATCH: The USACE Regulatory Program - Importance to the Public (YouTube)

On May 15, 2024, the USACE has updated the new Regulatory Request System. Please click on the following link to access RRS: rrs.usace.army.mil. View full Regulatory Announcement below.  USACE RRS Promo 90-sec

See the USACE Headquarters Regulatory Announcements page for overall news affecting the Regulatory Program
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The Regulatory Request System (RRS).
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Regulatory Announcements

Photo by David Farmer

Below are regulatory announcements, in chronological order, which are both current and historical. Current announcements provide information regarding ongoing regulatory processes and happenings. Historical announcements remain posted, as long as they remain up-to-date and applicable, to provide the public with a transparent record of changes and improvements to our program.

  • SPN: Special emergency processing procedures for activities subject to Executive Order 14156, Declaring a National Energy Emergency.

    On April 14th, 2025, USACE issued a Special Public Notice (SPN) announcing the establishment of special emergency processing procedures for activities subject to Executive Order 14156, Declaring a National Energy Emergency. The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the United States (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District has established special emergency processing procedures in accordance with 33 CFR § 325.2(e)(4) for the National Energy Emergency established by Executive Order (EO) 14156, which was issued on January 20, 2025 under the President’s legal authorities, including the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq) and section 301 of title 3, United States code. The SPN, along with the associated "Alaska District SOP for Processing of Permit Applications in Emergency Situations Pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 14156 and 33 CFR 325.2(e)(4), 26 March 2025", are posted on the Special Public Notice page.

  • 2024 Draft National Wetland Plant List Public Comment Period

    Expiration date: 3/31/2025

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), as part of an interagency effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, is announcing the availability of the draft changes to the 2024 NWPL and soliciting public comments. The Federal Register Notice (FRN) for the 2024 NWPL update can be found here https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/28/2025-01798/national-wetland-plant-list. These proposed changes include wetland indicator status rating changes to one species in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plan and Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Regions, one species in the Midwest and Northcentral and Northeast Regions, and, as a result of research conducted by the Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program (WRAP), eight species in the Alaska Region (read the full report here: http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/49509). Comments on these proposed changes should be emailed to nwpl@usace.army.mil. The public comment period ends on 31 March 2025.

  • USACE closes regulatory Kenai Field Office in Soldotna

    Expiration date: 10/25/2024

    JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Alaska District’s Regulatory Division closed its Kenai Field Office Sept. 23 located in Soldotna. While the physical office will no longer be operational, the staff remain committed to providing support and ensuring uninterrupted service to the community and stakeholders. Field office personnel will be available for meetings and site visits by appointment. The public can communicate with the Kenai team by sending correspondence to the address below: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ATTN: Kenai Field Office P.O. Box 6898 JBER, Alaska 99506-0898 Alternatively, emails may be directed to cepoa-rd-kenai@usace.army.mil. Phone inquiries can be made at the mainline at (907) 753-2712, 907-753-2689 or 907-227-3124. The mission of USACE’s Regulatory Program is one of the oldest in the federal government. Initially, it served to protect and maintain the navigable capacity of the nation’s waters. Time, changing public needs, evolving policy, case law and new statutory mandates have led to modifications to the program and its authorities. USACE’s jurisdiction as related to the Department of Army permit application process includes Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1972, under which USACE regulates the discharge of dredge and fill materials in waters of the United States; and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, under which USACE is responsible for the protection and maintenance of the nation’s navigable waterways.
  • USACE launches new Regulatory Request System

    USACE announces the launch of its new Regulatory Request System (RRS). RRS is designed to make the review of permit requests a transparent and efficient process for the public. RRS, currently in a beta version, provides general information on the Regulatory Program and allows the public to submit pre-application meeting requests and jurisdictional determination requests. Additional capability is scheduled in Spring 2024. This added capability will allow users the ability to electronically submit individual and general permit applications and other necessary information, saving time and reducing the need for paper-based submissions. RRS will streamline the permit application process and underscores USACE commitment to modernizing our application process, meeting user expectations, and providing a transparent, straightforward process for the timely review of permit requests. For additional information on or to provide feedback on RRS, please contact the rrs@usace.army.mil.
  • Final 2023 CWA Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule

    The final 2023 Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule (2023 Rule) went into effect on November 27, 2023. The final rule is grounded in the fundamental authority granted by Congress to states, territories, and Tribes to protect water resources that are essential to healthy people and thriving communities over the past 50 years
  • NEPA | National Environmental Policy Act - CEQ NEPA Implementing Procedures

    On July 28, 2023, CEQ announced a Phase 2 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking—the “Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule”—to revise its regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including to implement the amendments to NEPA by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
  • USACE and the U.S. Coast Guard execute a new MOU on navigable waters of the United States

    On 19 January 2023, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Regulatory Program and the U.S. Coast Guard (Coast Guard) executed a new Memorandum of Understanding on agency reviews of bridge and causeway projects over, in, or affecting navigable waters of the United States.
  • Release of the Interim Draft of the National Ordinary High Water Mark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and EPA (the Agencies) jointly announce the availability of the Interim Draft of the National Ordinary High Water Mark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams (National OHWM Manual) and its accompanying data sheet. The Interim Draft National OHWM Manual provides draft technical guidance for identifying and delineating the OHWM using a scientifically supported, rapid framework. The one-year testing and comment period ends on December 1, 2023. A final version of the National OHWM Manual is anticipated to be published during 2024.
  • Pay.gov - Department of the Army Permit Fees

    Applicants are now able to pay Department of the Army permit fees online at pay.gov instead of writing and mailing a check. This convenient option allows for multiple payment methods (bank account, Amazon account, PayPal, debit or credit card). The direct link for making Department of the Army permit fee payments on pay.gov is https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/996412796. Click here for a pay.gov payment walk-through which explains the process.