TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has reissued the Regional General Permit (RGP) SAJ-20 for docks and associated minor structures in Florida. The reissued SAJ-20 became effective on March 28, 2023, and will expire on March 28, 2028.
To simplify and speed processing of Department of the Army permits for minor, substantially similar in-water activities, the Corps reissued the SAJ-20 to include activities covered under the previous SAJ-20 (Private Residential Docks/Pier Facilities and Minor Structures in Florida), the RGP SAJ-33 (Private Multi-Family Piers, Government Piers, or Commercial Piers in Florida) and the RGP SAJ-72 (Residential Docks in Citrus County, Florida).
The reissued SAJ-20 removes certain geographic exclusion areas and adds the activities of multi-family, government and commercial dock facilities. The reissued RGP also updates and reorganizes the permit terms and conditions. The SAJ-20 authorizes activities within navigable waters of the United States in Florida, not including geographic exclusion areas listed in the permit or areas otherwise excluded by the terms and conditions of the permit.
Pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. § 403), the following activities are authorized by SAJ-20, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the permit:
1. Single-family residential dock facilities, designed to accommodate not more than four motorized vessels, unless a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved Manatee Protection Plan is more restrictive, in which case, the more restrictive slip count limit in the Manatee Protection Plan would apply. This includes normal appurtenances such as boat hoists, boat shelters with open sides, stairways, walkways, mooring pilings, dolphins, and maintenance and removal of same.
2. Multi-family residential dock facilities, government dock facilities, and commercial dock facilities, designed to accommodate not more than five motorized vessels unless a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved Manatee Protection Plan is more restrictive, in which case, the more restrictive slip count limit in the Manatee Protection Plan would apply. This includes normal appurtenances such as boat hoists, boat shelters with open sides, stairways, walkways, mooring pilings, dolphins, and maintenance and removal of same.
3. Other minor structures:
a. single mooring pilings;
b. small mooring dolphins (not to exceed a cluster of four);
c. non-commercial information signage;
d. boat lifts, hoists, davits, etc.
e. other minor structures that would have less environmental impact than a small dock.
The complete SAJ-20 permit instrument, with all terms and conditions, is located on the Jacksonville District Source Book page under “General Permits” (https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Source-Book/).
QUESTIONS concerning this public notice should be directed to Jessica Cordwell by electronic mail at Jessica.L.Cordwell@usace.army.mil, or by telephone at (813)769-7067.