PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Philadelphia District today announced 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 reopen.
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 Kenneth Goldberg, Assistant Chief, Operations, at 215-656-6721.
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 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (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.
Regional conditions that have been imposed on the 2012 NWPs and other information may be found at the District’s website, http://www.nap.usace.army.mil, by clicking on “Regulatory and Permitting Program.”
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Release no. 13-021