JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a final rule in the Federal Register (86 FR 2744) announcing the reissuance of 12 existing nationwide permits (NWPs) and four new NWPs, as well as the reissuance of NWP general conditions and definitions with some modifications. These 16 NWPs will go into effect on March 15, 2021, and will expire on March 14, 2026:
• NWP 12 – Oil or Natural Gas Pipeline Activities
• NWP 21 – Surface Coal Mining Activities
• NWP 29 – Residential Developments
• NWP 39 – Commercial and Institutional Developments
• NWP 40 – Agricultural Activities
• NWP 42 – Recreational Facilities
• NWP 43 – Stormwater Management Facilities
• NWP 44 – Mining Activities
• NWP 48 – Commercial Shellfish Mariculture Activities
• NWP 50 – Underground Coal Mining Activities
• NWP 51 – Land-Based Renewable Energy Generation Facilities
• NWP 52 – Water-Based Renewable Energy Generation Pilot Projects
• NWP 55 – Seaweed Mariculture Activities
• NWP 56 – Finfish Mariculture Activities
• NWP 57 – Electric Utility Line and Telecommunications Activities
• NWP 58 – Utility Line Activities for Water and Other Substances
The Corps has also issued final decision documents for the new and reissued NWPs. These final decision documents are available at www.regulations.gov at docket number COE-2020-0002. Furthermore, the national NWP decision documents will be supplemented by Division Engineers to address decisions concerning the addition of regional conditions to the NWPs.
The 12 existing NWPs published in the January 13, 2021 final rule replace the 2017 versions of these NWPs. The 2017 versions of NWPs 12, 21, 29, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 51 and 52 expire March 14, 2021.
With the publication of this Federal Register notice, Corps divisions will begin finalizing regional conditions for these 16 NWPs. Regional conditions will provide additional protection for the aquatic environment, and will help ensure that the NWPs authorize only those activities with no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. Regional conditions will help ensure protection of high value waters within the Jacksonville District.
Corps divisions and districts will also begin determining which conditions for water quality certifications issued by states, tribes, and EPA for the issuance of these NWPs become conditions of these NWPs. Corps divisions and districts will also begin determining which conditions for Coastal Zone Management Act consistency concurrences issued by states for the issuance of these NWPs become conditions of these NWPs. Those regional conditions will be announced in a future public notice issued by the Jacksonville District.
The January 13, 2021, Federal Register notice is available for viewing at
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/01/13/2021-00102/reissuance-and-modification-of-nationwide-permits
As an alternative, interested parties can access the January 13, 2021 final rule and related documents at
http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/NationwidePermits/
Questions on issues within the Jacksonville District relating to the NWPs can be mailed to Bob Barron, Project Manager, Regulatory Division, Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019, or emailed Robert.B.Barron@usace.army.mil.
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