1. Utah Watershed Coordinating Council Conservation Planning Workshop Navigating the Corps’ Permitting Process
July 20, 2011
Jason Gipson
Chief, Utah/Nevada Regulatory Branch
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District

2. Permitting Authority Section 10 Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) 1899
Section 404 Clean Water Act
(CWA)1972

3. Section 10 RHA
Permits for all work affecting navigable capacity of territorial seas, navigable rivers and lakes.
Purpose: to maintain safe/passable navigable waterways
Does not have to involve discharge of material into waterway

4. Section 10 Navigable Waters
Subject to tidal action and/or;
Historically or currently used for transportation of Interstate or Foreign Commerce
Most major waterways in the US
Lower Colorado River
Lower Green River
Flaming Gorge Reservoir
Bear Lake
Lake Powell

5. Typical Work Requiring Section 10 Permits
Work in, over or under the waterway
Permanent or temporary work
Dredging & Excavation
Bank Protection/Levee Work
Intake/Outfall Structures

6. Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Clean Water Act CWA goal:
Requires that a permit be obtained from the Corps prior to discharging dredged or fill material into “waters of the United States, including wetlands”
CWA goal:
To protect the physical, chemical and biological functions of our Nation’s waters

7. Typical Activities Requiring Section 404 Permits
Deposition of dredged or fill material in waters of the United States and/or adjacent wetlands
Site development fills for residential, commercial, or recreational developments
Aquatic habitat restoration activities
Bank stabilization
Spring developments

8. Waters of the United States
Waters of the United States consist of:
All navigable waters and their tributaries
All Interstate waters and their tributaries
Adjacent wetlands to those waters

9. Corps’ Jurisdiction

10. Corps’ Permitting Program
for Projects with Wetland Impacts

11. Step 1: Map Waterways/Wetlands
Describe project area
Discuss hydrology, vegetation and soils
Provide locations maps
Contact info of applicant/agent
Wetland/OHMM Data sheets
Waters delineation map
Needs to meet minimum standards

13. Step 2: Submit Report/Map to Corps
Corps verifies accuracy of map and jurisdiction via letter
Delineation report may be submitted alone or with application materials.

14. Step 3: Submit Application
Nationwide Permit – Preconstruction Notification (PCN)
PCN checklist
Project plans overlaid on delineation map
Historic Properties/Endangered Species information
Mitigation plan for permanent impacts
45-day Corps completeness review period
45-60 days to issue verification

15. PCN Exception (NWP 27)
for NRCS, FWS, FSA and Cooperating State Agencies on non-federal lands:
Requires submission of Wetland Enhancement Agreement; or
Project description, including plans; or
NRCS Technical Service Provider docs for voluntary wetland restoration action
30-day Corps review of submitted material

16. Regional Conditions Supersede PCN Exemption Examples:
Work in springs, histosols and/or fens
Below elevation 4217’ (GSL) and 4500’ (Utah Lake)
For NWP 27: >1,500 feet of stream, >50 cu ft structural fill or grade control structure >1 vertical-foot drop

18. Projects With No Wetlands Impacts
Use General Permit (GP) 40

19. GP 40 Joint permit process with State of Utah
Authorizes minimal impacts to streams only (no wetlands impacts authorized)
Max 300 feet, or 500 feet with bio-engineering
Streamlined permitting process ~30 days

20. Individual Permits (IP)
Processing time – 120 days
Authorizes activities with more than minimal impacts (no acreage limitations)
Public process
Alternatives Evaluation
Undergo Public Interest Evaluation
Compliance with Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines
Section 401 Certification (404 permits only)

21. Exemptions Maintenance/Replacement of existing structures
Culverts, spring boxes, weirs
Fencing thru wetlands
Please contact Corps project manager for verification of exemption

22. Speeding Up The Process
Request a preliminary jurisdictional determination
Coordinate early with Corps project managers
Site visits
ESA/Historic Properties

24. Questions?

25. Thank You
Contact Information:
Jason Gipson
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Utah Regulatory Office
533 West 2600 South, Ste. 150
Bountiful, Utah 84010
(801) x 14
Web Page: