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C.
Nationwide Permit General Conditions
Note: To
qualify for NWP authorization, the prospective permittee must comply
with the following general conditions, as appropriate, in addition to
any regional or case-specific conditions imposed by the division engineer
or district engineer. Prospective permittees should contact the appropriate
Corps district office to determine if regional conditions have been
imposed on an NWP. Prospective permittees should also contact the appropriate
Corps district office to determine the status of Clean Water Act Section
401 water quality certification and/or Coastal Zone Management Act consistency
for an NWP.
1. Navigation.
(a) No activity may cause more than a minimal adverse effect on navigation.
(b) Any safety lights and signals prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard,
through regulations or otherwise, must be installed and maintained at
the permittee's expense on authorized facilities in navigable waters
of the United States.
(c) The permittee understands and agrees that, if future operations
by the United States require the removal, relocation, or other alteration,
of the structure or work herein authorized, or if, in the opinion of
the Secretary of the Army or his authorized representative, said structure
or work shall cause unreasonable obstruction to the free navigation
of the navigable waters, the permittee will be required, upon due notice
from the Corps of Engineers, to remove, relocate, or alter the structural
work or obstructions caused thereby, without expense to the United States.
No claim shall be made against the United States on account of any such
removal or alteration.
2. Aquatic
Life Movements. No activity may substantially disrupt the necessary
life cycle movements of those species of aquatic life indigenous to
the waterbody, including those species that normally migrate through
the area, unless the activity's primary purpose is to impound water.
Culverts placed in streams must be installed to maintain low flow conditions.
3. Spawning
Areas. Activities in spawning areas during spawning seasons must be
avoided to the maximum extent practicable. Activities that result in
the physical destruction (e.g., through excavation, fill, or downstream
smothering by substantial turbidity) of an important spawning area are
not authorized.
4. Migratory
Bird Breeding Areas. Activities in waters of the United States that
serve as breeding areas for migratory birds must be avoided to the maximum
extent practicable.
5. Shellfish
Beds. No activity may occur in areas of concentrated shellfish populations,
unless the activity is directly related to a shellfish harvesting activity
authorized by NWPs 4 and 48.
6. Suitable
Material. No activity may use unsuitable material (e.g., trash, debris,
car bodies, asphalt, etc.). Material used for construction or discharged
must be free from toxic pollutants in toxic amounts (see Section 307
of the Clean Water Act).
7. Water
Supply Intakes. No activity may occur in the proximity of a public water
supply intake, except where the activity is for the repair or improvement
of public water supply intake structures or adjacent bank stabilization.
8. Adverse
Effects From Impoundments. If the activity creates an impoundment of
water, adverse effects to the aquatic system due to accelerating the
passage of water, and/or restricting its flow must be minimized to the
maximum extent practicable.
9. Management
of Water Flows. To the maximum extent practicable, the pre-construction
course, condition, capacity, and location of open waters must be maintained
for each activity, including stream channelization and storm water management
activities, except as provided below. The activity must be constructed
to withstand expected high flows. The activity must not restrict or
impede the passage of normal or high flows, unless the primary purpose
of the activity is to impound water or manage high flows. The activity
may alter the pre-construction course, condition, capacity, and location
of open waters if it benefits the aquatic environment (e.g., stream
restoration or relocation activities).
10. Fills
Within 100-Year Floodplains. The activity must comply with applicable
FEMA-approved state or local floodplain management requirements.
11. Equipment.
Heavy equipment working in wetlands or mudflats must be placed on mats,
or other measures must be taken to minimize soil disturbance.
12. Soil
Erosion and Sediment Controls. Appropriate soil erosion and sediment
controls must be used and maintained in effective operating condition
during construction, and all exposed soil and other fills, as well as
any work below the ordinary high water mark or high tide line, must
be permanently stabilized at the earliest practicable date. Permittees
are encouraged to perform work within waters of the United States during
periods of low-flow or no-flow.
13. Removal
of Temporary Fills. Temporary fills must be removed in their entirety
and the affected areas returned to pre-construction elevations. The
affected areas must be revegetated, as appropriate.
14. Proper
Maintenance. Any authorized structure or fill shall be properly maintained,
including maintenance to ensure public safety.
15. Wild
and Scenic Rivers. No activity may occur in a component of the National
Wild and Scenic River System, or in a river officially designated by
Congress as a “study river” for possible inclusion in the system while
the river is in an official study status, unless the appropriate Federal
agency with direct management responsibility for such river, has determined
in writing that the proposed activity will not adversely affect the
Wild and Scenic River designation or study status. Information on Wild
and Scenic Rivers may be obtained from the appropriate Federal land
management agency in the area (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Forest
Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
16. Tribal
Rights. No activity or its operation may impair reserved tribal rights,
including, but not limited to, reserved water rights and treaty fishing
and hunting rights.
17. Endangered
Species. (a) No activity is authorized under any NWP which is likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of a threatened or endangered
species or a species proposed for such designation, as identified under
the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), or which will destroy or adversely
modify the critical habitat of such species. No activity is authorized
under any NWP which “may affect” a listed species or critical habitat,
unless Section 7 consultation addressing the effects of the proposed
activity has been completed.
(b) Federal agencies should follow their own procedures for complying
with the requirements of the ESA. Federal permittees must provide the
district engineer with the appropriate documentation to demonstrate
compliance with those requirements.
(c) Non-federal permittees shall notify the district engineer if any
listed species or designated critical habitat might be affected or is
in the vicinity of the project, or if the project is located in designated
critical habitat, and shall not begin work on the activity until notified
by the district engineer that the requirements of the ESA have been
satisfied and that the activity is authorized. For activities that might
affect Federally-listed endangered or threatened species or designated
critical habitat, the pre-construction notification must include the
name(s) of the endangered or threatened species that may be affected
by the proposed work or that utilize the designated critical habitat
that may be affected by the proposed work. The district engineer will
determine whether the proposed activity “may affect” or will have “no
effect” to listed species and designated critical habitat and will notify
the non-Federal applicant of the Corps’ determination within 45 days
of receipt of a complete pre-construction notification. In cases where
the non-Federal applicant has identified listed species or critical
habitat that might be affected or is in the vicinity of the project,
and has so notified the Corps, the applicant shall not begin work until
the Corps has provided notification the proposed activities will have
“no effect” on listed species or critical habitat, or until Section
7 consultation has been completed.
(d) As a result of formal or informal consultation with the FWS or NMFS
the district engineer may add species-specific regional endangered species
conditions to the NWPs.
(e) Authorization of an activity by a NWP does not authorize the “take”
of a threatened or endangered species as defined under the ESA. In the
absence of separate authorization (e.g., an ESA Section 10 Permit, a
Biological Opinion with “incidental take” provisions, etc.) from the
U.S. FWS or the NMFS, both lethal and non-lethal “takes” of protected
species are in violation of the ESA. Information on the location of
threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat can be
obtained directly from the offices of the U.S. FWS and NMFS or their
world wide Web pages at http://www.fws.gov/ and http://www.noaa.gov/fisheries.html
respectively.
18. Historic
Properties. (a) In cases where the district engineer determines that
the activity may affect properties listed, or eligible for listing,
in the National Register of Historic Places, the activity is not authorized,
until the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act (NHPA) have been satisfied.
(b) Federal permittees should follow their own procedures for complying
with the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act. Federal permittees must provide the district engineer with the
appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with those requirements.
(c) Non-federal permittees must submit a pre-construction notification
to the district engineer if the authorized activity may have the potential
to cause effects to any historic properties listed, determined to be
eligible for listing on, or potentially eligible for listing on the
National Register of Historic Places, including previously unidentified
properties. For such activities, the pre-construction notification must
state which historic properties may be affected by the proposed work
or include a vicinity map indicating the location of the historic properties
or the potential for the presence of historic properties. Assistance
regarding information on the location of or potential for the presence
of historic resources can be sought from the State Historic Preservation
Officer or Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, as appropriate, and
the National Register of Historic Places (see 33 CFR 330.4(g)). The
district engineer shall make a reasonable and good faith effort to carry
out appropriate identification efforts, which may include background
research, consultation, oral history interviews, sample field investigation,
and field survey. Based on the information submitted and these efforts,
the district engineer shall determine whether the proposed activity
has the potential to cause an effect on the historic properties. Where
the non-Federal applicant has identified historic properties which the
activity may have the potential to cause effects and so notified the
Corps, the non-Federal applicant shall not begin the activity until
notified by the district engineer either that the activity has no potential
to cause effects or that consultation under Section 106 of the NHPA
has been completed.
(d) The district engineer will notify the prospective permittee within
45 days of receipt of a complete pre-construction notification whether
NHPA Section 106 consultation is required. Section 106 consultation
is not required when the Corps determines that the activity does not
have the potential to cause effects on historic properties (see 36 CFR
800.3(a)). If NHPA section 106 consultation is required and will occur,
the district engineer will notify the non-Federal applicant that he
or she cannot begin work until Section 106 consultation is completed.
(e) Prospective permittees should be aware that section 110k of the
NHPA (16 U.S.C. 470h-2(k)) prevents the Corps from granting a permit
or other assistance to an applicant who, with intent to avoid the requirements
of Section 106 of the NHPA, has intentionally significantly adversely
affected a historic property to which the permit would relate, or having
legal power to prevent it, allowed such significant adverse effect to
occur, unless the Corps, after consultation with the Advisory Council
on Historic Preservation (ACHP), determines that circumstances justify
granting such assistance despite the adverse effect created or permitted
by the applicant. If circumstances justify granting the assistance,
the Corps is required to notify the ACHP and provide documentation specifying
the circumstances, explaining the degree of damage to the integrity
of any historic properties affected, and proposed mitigation. This documentation
must include any views obtained from the applicant, SHPO/THPO, appropriate
Indian tribes if the undertaking occurs on or affects historic properties
on tribal lands or affects properties of interest to those tribes, and
other parties known to have a legitimate interest in the impacts to
the permitted activity on historic properties.
19. Designated
Critical Resource Waters. Critical resource waters include, NOAA-designated
marine sanctuaries, National Estuarine Research Reserves, state natural
heritage sites, and outstanding national resource waters or other waters
officially designated by a state as having particular environmental
or ecological significance and identified by the district engineer after
notice and opportunity for public comment. The district engineer may
also designate additional critical resource waters after notice and
opportunity for comment.
(a) Discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United
States are not authorized by NWPs 7, 12, 14, 16, 17, 21, 29, 31, 35,
39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 49, and 50 for any activity within, or directly
affecting, critical resource waters, including wetlands adjacent to
such waters.
(b) For NWPs 3, 8, 10, 13, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34,
36, 37, and 38, notification is required in accordance with general
condition 27, for any activity proposed in the designated critical resource
waters including wetlands adjacent to those waters. The district engineer
may authorize activities under these NWPs only after it is determined
that the impacts to the critical resource waters will be no more than
minimal.
20. Mitigation.
The district engineer will consider the following factors when determining
appropriate and practicable mitigation necessary to ensure that adverse
effects on the aquatic environment are minimal:
(a) The activity must be designed and constructed to avoid and minimize
adverse effects, both temporary and permanent, to waters of the United
States to the maximum extent practicable at the project site (i.e.,
on site).
(b) Mitigation in all its forms (avoiding, minimizing, rectifying, reducing,
or compensating) will be required to the extent necessary to ensure
that the adverse effects to the aquatic environment are minimal.
(c) Compensatory mitigation at a minimum one-for-one ratio will be required
for all wetland losses that exceed 1/10 acre and require pre-construction
notification, unless the district engineer determines in writing that
some other form of mitigation would be more environmentally appropriate
and provides a project-specific waiver of this requirement. For wetland
losses of 1/10 acre or less that require pre-construction notification,
the district engineer may determine on a case-by-case basis that compensatory
mitigation is required to ensure that the activity results in minimal
adverse effects on the aquatic environment. Since the likelihood of
success is greater and the impacts to potentially valuable uplands are
reduced, wetland restoration should be the first compensatory mitigation
option considered.
(d) For losses of streams or other open waters that require pre-construction
notification, the district engineer may require compensatory mitigation,
such as stream restoration, to ensure that the activity results in minimal
adverse effects on the aquatic environment.
(e) Compensatory mitigation will not be used to increase the acreage
losses allowed by the acreage limits of the NWPs. For example, if an
NWP has an acreage limit of 1/2 acre, it cannot be used to authorize
any project resulting in the loss of greater than 1/2 acre of waters
of the United States, even if compensatory mitigation is provided that
replaces or restores some of the lost waters. However, compensatory
mitigation can and should be used, as necessary, to ensure that a project
already meeting the established acreage limits also satisfies the minimal
impact requirement associated with the NWPs.
(f) Compensatory mitigation plans for projects in or near streams or
other open waters will normally include a requirement for the establishment,
maintenance, and legal protection (e.g., conservation easements) of
riparian areas next to open waters. In some cases, riparian areas may
be the only compensatory mitigation required. Riparian areas should
consist of native species. The width of the required riparian area will
address documented water quality or aquatic habitat loss concerns. Normally,
the riparian area will be 25 to 50 feet wide on each side of the stream,
but the district engineer may require slightly wider riparian areas
to address documented water quality or habitat loss concerns. Where
both wetlands and open waters exist on the project site, the district
engineer will determine the appropriate compensatory mitigation (e.g.,
riparian areas and/or wetlands compensation) based on what is best for
the aquatic environment on a watershed basis. In cases where riparian
areas are determined to be the most appropriate form of compensatory
mitigation, the district engineer may waive or reduce the requirement
to provide wetland compensatory mitigation for wetland losses.
(g) Permittees may propose the use of mitigation banks, in-lieu fee
arrangements or separate activity-specific compensatory mitigation.
In all cases, the mitigation provisions will specify the party responsible
for accomplishing and/or complying with the mitigation plan.
(h) Where certain functions and services of waters of the United States
are permanently adversely affected, such as the conversion of a forested
or scrub-shrub wetland to a herbaceous wetland in a permanently maintained
utility line right-of-way, mitigation may be required to reduce the
adverse effects of the project to the minimal level.
21. Water
Quality. Where States and authorized Tribes, or EPA where applicable,
have not previously certified compliance of an NWP with CWA Section
401, individual 401 Water Quality Certification must be obtained or
waived (see 33 CFR 330.4(c)). The district engineer or State or Tribe
may require additional water quality management measures to ensure that
the authorized activity does not result in more than minimal degradation
of water quality.
22. Coastal
Zone Management. In coastal states where an NWP has not previously received
a state coastal zone management consistency concurrence, an individual
state coastal zone management consistency concurrence must be obtained,
or a presumption of concurrence must occur (see 33 CFR 330.4(d)). The
district engineer or a State may require additional measures to ensure
that the authorized activity is consistent with state coastal zone management
requirements.
23. Regional
and Case-By-Case Conditions. The activity must comply with any regional
conditions that may have been added by the Division Engineer (see 33
CFR 330.4(e)) and with any case specific conditions added by the Corps
or by the state, Indian Tribe, or U.S. EPA in its section 401 Water
Quality Certification, or by the state in its Coastal Zone Management
Act consistency determination.
24. Use
of Multiple Nationwide Permits. The use of more than one NWP for a single
and complete project is prohibited, except when the acreage loss of
waters of the United States authorized by the NWPs does not exceed the
acreage limit of the NWP with the highest specified acreage limit. For
example, if a road crossing over tidal waters is constructed under NWP
14, with associated bank stabilization authorized by NWP 13, the maximum
acreage loss of waters of the United States for the total project cannot
exceed 1/3-acre.
25. Transfer
of Nationwide Permit Verifications. If the permittee sells the property
associated with a nationwide permit verification, the permittee may
transfer the nationwide permit verification to the new owner by submitting
a letter to the appropriate Corps district office to validate the transfer.
A copy of the nationwide permit verification must be attached to the
letter, and the letter must contain the following statement and signature:
“When the structures or work authorized by this nationwide permit are
still in existence at the time the property is transferred, the terms
and conditions of this nationwide permit, including any special conditions,
will continue to be binding on the new owner(s) of the property. To
validate
the transfer of this nationwide permit and the associated liabilities
associated with compliance with its terms and conditions, have the transferee
sign and date below.”
(Transferee)
(Date)
26. Compliance Certification. Each permittee who received an NWP verification
from the Corps must submit a signed certification regarding the completed
work and any required mitigation. The certification form must be forwarded
by the Corps with the NWP verification letter and will include:
(a) A statement that the authorized work was done in accordance with
the NWP authorization, including any general or specific conditions;
(b) A statement that any required mitigation was completed in accordance
with the permit conditions; and
(c) The signature of the permittee certifying the completion of the
work and mitigation.
27. Pre-Construction
Notification. (a) Timing. Where required by the terms of the NWP, the
prospective permittee must notify the district engineer by submitting
a pre-construction notification (PCN) as early as possible. The district
engineer must determine if the PCN is complete within 30 calendar days
of the date of receipt and, as a general rule, will request additional
information necessary to make the PCN complete only once. However, if
the prospective permittee does not provide all of the requested information,
then the district engineer will notify the prospective permittee that
the PCN is still incomplete and the PCN review process will not commence
until all of the requested information has been received by the district
engineer. The prospective permittee shall not begin the activity until
either:
(1) He or she is notified in writing by the district engineer that the
activity may proceed under the NWP with any special conditions imposed
by the district or division engineer; or
(2) Forty-five calendar days have passed from the district engineer’s
receipt of the complete PCN and the prospective permittee has not received
written notice from the district or division engineer. However, if the
permittee was required to notify the Corps pursuant to general condition
17 that listed species or critical habitat might affected or in the
vicinity of the project, or to notify the Corps pursuant to general
condition 18 that the activity may have the potential to cause effects
to historic properties, the permittee cannot begin the activity until
receiving written notification from the Corps that is “no effect” on
listed species or “no potential to cause effects” on historic properties,
or that any consultation required under Section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act (see 33 CFR 330.4(f)) and/or Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation (see 33 CFR 330.4(g)) is completed. Also, work
cannot begin under NWPs 21, 49, or 50 until the permittee has received
written approval from the Corps. If the proposed activity requires a
written waiver to exceed specified limits of an NWP, the permittee cannot
begin the activity until the district engineer issues the waiver. If
the district or division engineer notifies the permittee in writing
that an individual permit is required within 45 calendar days of receipt
of a complete PCN, the permittee cannot begin the activity until an
individual permit has been obtained. Subsequently, the permittee’s right
to proceed under the NWP may be modified, suspended, or revoked only
in accordance with the procedure set forth in 33 CFR 330.5(d)(2).
(b) Contents of Pre-Construction Notification: The PCN must be in writing
and include the following information:
(1) Name, address and telephone numbers of the prospective permittee;
(2) Location of the proposed project;
(3) A description of the proposed project; the project’s purpose; direct
and indirect adverse environmental effects the project would cause;
any other NWP(s), regional general permit(s), or individual permit(s)
used or intended to be used to authorize any part of the proposed project
or any related activity. The description should be sufficiently detailed
to allow the district engineer to determine that the adverse effects
of the project will be minimal and to determine the need for compensatory
mitigation. Sketches should be provided when necessary to show that
the activity complies with the terms of the NWP. (Sketches usually clarify
the project and when provided result in a quicker decision.);
(4) The PCN must include a delineation of special aquatic sites and
other waters of the United States on the project site. Wetland delineations
must be prepared in accordance with the current method required by the
Corps. The permittee may ask the Corps to delineate the special aquatic
sites and other waters of the United States, but there may be a delay
if the Corps does the delineation, especially if the project site is
large or contains many waters of the United States. Furthermore, the
45 day period will not start until the delineation has been submitted
to or completed by the Corps, where appropriate;
(5) If the proposed activity will result in the loss of greater than
1/10 acre of wetlands and a PCN is required, the prospective permittee
must submit a statement describing how the mitigation requirement will
be satisfied. As an alternative, the prospective permittee may submit
a conceptual or detailed mitigation plan.
(6) If any listed species or designated critical habitat might be affected
or is in the vicinity of the project, or if the project is located in
designated critical habitat, for non-Federal applicants the PCN must
include the name(s) of those endangered or threatened species that might
be affected by the proposed work or utilize the designated critical
habitat that may be affected by the proposed work. Federal applicants
must provide documentation demonstrating compliance with the Endangered
Species Act; and
(7) For an activity that may affect a historic property listed on, determined
to be eligible for listing on, or potentially eligible for listing on,
the National Register of Historic Places, for non-Federal applicants
the PCN must state which historic property may be affected by the proposed
work or include a vicinity map indicating the location of the historic
property. Federal applicants must provide documentation demonstrating
compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
(c) Form of Pre-Construction Notification: The standard individual permit
application form (Form ENG 4345) may be used, but the completed application
form must clearly indicate that it is a PCN and must include all of
the information required in paragraphs (b)(1) through (7) of this general
condition. A letter containing the required information may also be
used.
(d) Agency Coordination: (1) The district engineer will consider any
comments from Federal and state agencies concerning the proposed activity’s
compliance with the terms and conditions of the NWPs and the need for
mitigation to reduce the project’s adverse environmental effects to
a minimal level.
(2) For all NWP 48 activities requiring pre-construction notification
and for other NWP activities requiring pre-construction notification
to the district engineer that result in the loss of greater than 1/2-acre
of waters of the United States, the district engineer will immediately
provide (e.g., via facsimile transmission, overnight mail, or other
expeditious manner) a copy of the PCN to the appropriate Federal or
state offices (U.S. FWS, state natural resource or water quality agency,
EPA, State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) or Tribal Historic Preservation
Office (THPO), and, if appropriate, the NMFS). With the exception of
NWP 37, these agencies will then have 10 calendar days from the date
the material is transmitted to telephone or fax the district engineer
notice that they intend to provide substantive, site-specific comments.
If so contacted by an agency, the district engineer will wait an additional
15 calendar days before making a decision on the pre-construction notification.
The district engineer will fully consider agency comments received within
the specified time frame, but will provide no response to the resource
agency, except as provided below. The district engineer will indicate
in the administrative record associated with each pre-construction notification
that the resource agencies’ concerns were considered. For NWP 37, the
emergency watershed protection and rehabilitation activity may proceed
immediately in cases where there is an unacceptable hazard to life or
a significant loss of property or economic hardship will occur. The
district engineer will consider any comments received to decide whether
the NWP 37 authorization should be modified, suspended, or revoked in
accordance with the procedures at 33 CFR 330.5.
(3) In cases of where the prospective permittee is not a Federal agency,
the district engineer will provide a response to NMFS within 30 calendar
days of receipt of any Essential Fish Habitat conservation recommendations,
as required by Section 305(b)(4)(B) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act.
(4) Applicants are encouraged to provide the Corps multiple copies of
pre-construction notifications to expedite agency coordination.
(5) For NWP 48 activities that require reporting, the district engineer
will provide a copy of each report within 10 calendar days of receipt
to the appropriate regional office of the NMFS.
(e) District Engineer’s Decision: In reviewing the PCN for the proposed
activity, the district engineer will determine whether the activity
authorized by the NWP will result in more than minimal individual or
cumulative adverse environmental effects or may be contrary to the public
interest. If the proposed activity requires a PCN and will result in
a loss of greater than 1/10 acre of wetlands, the prospective permittee
should submit a mitigation proposal with the PCN. Applicants may also
propose compensatory mitigation for projects with smaller impacts. The
district engineer will consider any proposed compensatory mitigation
the applicant has included in the proposal in determining whether the
net adverse environmental effects to the aquatic environment of the
proposed work are minimal. The compensatory mitigation proposal may
be either conceptual or detailed. If the district engineer determines
that the activity complies with the terms and conditions of the NWP
and that the adverse effects on the aquatic environment are minimal,
after considering mitigation, the district engineer will notify the
permittee and include any conditions the district engineer deems necessary.
The district engineer must approve any compensatory mitigation proposal
before the permittee commences work. If the prospective permittee elects
to submit a compensatory mitigation plan with the PCN, the district
engineer will expeditiously review the proposed compensatory mitigation
plan. The district engineer must review the plan within 45 calendar
days of receiving a complete PCN and determine whether the proposed
mitigation would ensure no more than minimal adverse effects on the
aquatic environment. If the net adverse effects of the project on the
aquatic environment (after consideration of the compensatory mitigation
proposal) are determined by the district engineer to be minimal, the
district engineer will provide a timely written response to the applicant.
The response will state that the project can proceed under the terms
and conditions of the NWP.
If the district engineer determines that the adverse effects of the
proposed work are more than minimal, then the district engineer will
notify the applicant either: (1) That the project does not qualify for
authorization under the NWP and instruct the applicant on the procedures
to seek authorization under an individual permit; (2) that the project
is authorized under the NWP subject to the applicant’s submission of
a mitigation plan that would reduce the adverse effects on the aquatic
environment to the minimal level; or (3) that the project is authorized
under the NWP with specific modifications or conditions. Where the district
engineer determines that mitigation is required to ensure no more than
minimal adverse effects occur to the aquatic environment, the activity
will be authorized within the 45-day PCN period. The authorization will
include the necessary conceptual or specific mitigation or a requirement
that the applicant submit a mitigation plan that would reduce the adverse
effects on the aquatic environment to the minimal level. When mitigation
is required, no work in waters of the United States may occur until
the district engineer has approved a specific mitigation plan.
28. Single and Complete Project. The activity must be a single and complete
project. The same NWP cannot be used more than once for the same single
and complete project.
D. Further
Information
1. District
Engineers have authority to determine if an activity complies with the
terms and conditions of an NWP.
2. NWPs do not obviate the need to obtain other federal, state, or local
permits, approvals, or authorizations required by law.
3. NWPs do not grant any property rights or exclusive privileges.
4. NWPs do not authorize any injury to the property or rights of others.
5. NWPs do not authorize interference with any existing or proposed
Federal project.
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