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Overview of the Corps' Permit Process

The Permit Process consists of a number of steps involving the applicant, the Corps of Engineers, public and/or private organizations, federal, state and/or local agencies.

Click below for information on each permitting process.

 

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 A Complete Department of Army Application
An application is complete when it contains sufficient information to issue a public notice. At a minimum, a complete application must contain:

      • A description of the proposed activity, including drawings, sketches, plans, etc.
      • The location, purpose, and need for the proposed activity
      • Scheduling of the activity
      • Names and addresses of adjoining property owners
      • The location and dimensions of adjacent structures
      • A list of authorizations required by other federal, interstate, state, or local agencies for the work, including all approvals or denials already received

Note: The Corps' receipt date is the date the application was received by the Corps district office that will process the permit application. The application receipt date and application complete date may not be the same.

Note: A detailed engineering plan or drawings are not required to process an application. Hand sketches are acceptable. All drawings and illustrations should be submitted on an 8-1/2" x 11" white paper and should be reproducible.
 Administrative Appeal Process
In 1999, the Corps established an administrative appeal process for denied permits and for individual permits that are declined by permit applicants because they do not agree with the permit conditions.  The Corps added an administrative appeal process for Approved Jurisdictional Determinations in 2000.

The administrative appeals process provides opportunities for permit applicants and landowners to contest certain decisions made by district engineers, without challenging those decisions in Federal court. Administrative appeals are reviewed at Corps division offices.  To request an administrative appeal of a denied permit, a declined individual permit, or an approved jurisdictional determination, the permit applicant or landowner submits a “Request for Appeal” Form to the appropriate division office.

Third parties cannot request an administrative appeal of a decision made by a district engineer.  General permit authorizations, including nationwide permit authorizations, and Preliminary Jurisdicational Determination are not subject to the administrative appeal process.  For additional information on the Corps Appeals Process, please contact the appropriate Field Office
 Compliance With Related Laws
Activities that require a Corps permit may also require permits, coordination and/or approvals from other Federal, Tribal, state, or local agencies. 

Some examples include:
- The Endangered Species Act
- Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
- National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106
- Water Quality Certification
- National Wild & Scenic Rivers Act
- Tribal Entities 


 General Permits: Nationwide, Regional, Programmatic
There are three types of general permits: nationwide permits, regional general permits, and programmatic general permits.

General permits are not normally developed for an individual applicant, but authorize activities the Corps has identified as being substantially similar in nature and causing only minimal individual and cumulative environmental impacts. General permits may authorize activities in a limited geographic area (e.g., county or state), a particular region of the county (e.g., group of contiguous states), or the nation. A regional or programmatic general permit is issued by the division or district engineer that has regulatory jurisdiction over the geographic area in which the general permit will be used. The issuance process for a general permit closely parallels the issuance process for individual permits, with a public notice, opportunity for a public hearing and detailed decision documentation. Activities that qualify for general permit authorization may proceed, provided the terms and conditions of the general permit are met. However, some general permits may require review of the proposed work by district engineers before the project proponent can begin construction of the project.

A Nationwide Permit (NWP) is a type of general permit that authorizes activities on a nationwide basis, unless specifically limited through regional conditions or revoked by division or district engineers. The latest reissuance of the nationwide permits was published in the January 6, 2017, issue of the Federal Register (Vol. 82, No. 4). This Federal Register notice contains the text of the nationwide permits, as well as the general conditions and definitions. Division engineers can add regional conditions to nationwide permits to restrict their use to ensure that those activities result in minimal adverse environmental effects. You should contact the appropriate Corps Walla Walla Field Office to determine if there are any regional conditions for the nationwide permits.

A Regional General Permit (RGP) is a type of general permit that authorizes activities in a particular state or other geographic region.

A Programmatic General Permit (PGP) is based on an existing state, local or other Federal agency program and designed to avoid duplication with that program.
 Letter of Permission
A Letter of Permission may be used where, in the opinion of the district engineer, the proposed work would be minor, would not have significant individual or cumulative impacts on environmental values, and should encounter no appreciable opposition.
In such situations, the proposal is coordinated with Federal and state resource agencies, and in most cases, adjacent property owners who might be affected by the proposal.  However, the public at large is not notified.  The public interest review process is central to the decision-making process for letters of permission.  The evaluation and criteria used to make the final decision are documented in the decision document. 
 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires the identification of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), which is defined as those waters necessary for fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity.  This law requires Federal agencies to consult with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and regional Fishery Management Councils on all actions that may adversely affect Essential Fish Habitat.  As a result of this consultation, the National Marine Fisheries Service and regional Fishery Management Councils may provide comments and Essential Fish Habitat conservation recommendations. 
 National Historic Preservation Act (Section 106)

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires the Corps to take into account the effects that activities authorized by Department of the Army permits are likely to have on historical properties listed in, or eligible for listing in, the National Register of Historic Places. State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPO) and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPO) are provided the opportunity to review and comment on all individual permit activities and certain general permit activities. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation may review certain proposed activities that require a Corps permit.

The Corps has a responsibility to comply with NHPA (per 36 CFR 800). Section 106 requirements of the Protection of Historic Properties subpart (b), requirements for consultation on Federal actions or “undertakings” are required by a Federal agency “having direct or indirect jurisdiction” over a proposed Federal undertaking, and shall, prior to approval of the undertaking, take into account the effect of the undertaking on any historic property “in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register”.

An “undertaking” means a project, activity, permit, or program funded in whole or in part under the direct or indirect jurisdiction of a Federal Agency, including:

     - Those carried out by or on behalf of an agency
     - Those carried out with Federal financial assistance
     - Those requiring a Federal permit, license, or approval
     - Those subject to State or local regulations administered pursuant to delegation or approval by a Federal agency Appendix C, 33 CFR 325

The Corps drafted Appendix C in 1981, with revisions in 1990, as the historic properties review procedure for Corps permits. The Corps is solely responsible for the extent of the undertaking, which we define as the Project Review Area (PRA). The PRA is delineated both in Appendix C and Appendix B (NEPA Regulations).

For Further information on Section 106, National Historic Preservation Act or Section 106 Consultations, please visit USACE HQ website.

NOTE: The Corps' Project Review Area (PRA) may differ from the Area of Potential Effect (APE) used in 36 CFR 800.

 Permit Fees

Fees are not charged for transferring a permit from one property owner to another, for a Nationwide or Regional general permits, for Letters of Permission, or for permits issued to governmental agencies.

Do not send a fee when you submit an application. When the Corps issues a standard permit, you will be notified and asked to submit the required fee.  Fees are required for most standard permits.  The current fee is $10.00 for a standard permit for a noncommercial activity and $100.00 for a standard permit for a commercial or industrial activity. 

The final decision on the basis of a fee (non-commercial versus commercial) is solely the responsibility of the District Engineer. 


 Permit Processing Times

On average, a Standard Permit (Individual or Letter of Permission) decisions are made within 120 days from receipt of a complete application.  Decisions authorizing General Permits (Nationwide or Regional) are typically made within 45 days, on average. Emergency permit decisions can be made in a matter or hours or days, peneding upon the emergency.  However, there may be some projects that require additional information and/or review that may extended the processing times beyond those listed; these are usually rare exceptions to the Walla Walla District's average processing times. 

For questions specific to your project's processing time, please contact the approproate Walla Walla District Field Office to speak with a Project Manager.   


 Pre-Application Consultations

Pre-application consultation usually involves one or more meetings between an applicant and Corps district staff.  Other interested resource agencies, Federal, state, local, may also participate in a pre-application meeting, depending upon the project and/or impacts.  The basic purpose of such meetings is to provide for informal discussions about a proposed activity before an applicant makes irreversible commitments of resources (funds, detailed designs, etc.).  The pre-application process is intended to provide the applicant with an assessment of the viability of some of the more obvious alternatives available to accomplish the project purpose, to discuss measures for reducing the impacts of the project, and to inform the applicant of the factors the Corps must consider in its decision-making process.

Once a complete application is received, the review process begins.  Corps districts operate under what is called a project manager system, where one individual is responsible for handling an application from receipt to final decision. The project manager prepares a public notice (if needed), evaluates the impacts of the project and all comments received, negotiates necessary modifications of the project, and prepares appropriate documentation to support a recommended permit decision.


 Public Interest Review
The Corps public interest review is the main framework for the overall evaluation of projects.  The public interest review requires the careful weighing of all public interest factors relevant to each particular permit application.  Thus, one specific factor (e.g., fish and wildlife values or economics) cannot by itself force a specific decision, but rather the decision represents the net effect of balancing all public interest factors, many of which are frequently in conflict.

The public interest review is used to evaluate applications under all authorities administered by the Corps.  During the review of a permit application, the Corps evaluates the following public interest review factors:
•   Conservation
•   Economics
•   Aesthetics
•   General environmental concerns
•   Wetlands
•   Historic properties
•   Fish and wildlife values
•   Flood hazards
•   Floodplain values
•   Land use
•   Navigation
•   Shore erosion and accretion
•   Recreation
•   Water supply and conservation
•   Water quality
•   Energy needs
•   Safety
•   Food and fiber production
•   Mineral needs
•   Considerations of property ownership
•   The needs and welfare of the people
 Public Involvement
Public involvement plays a central role in the Corps’ administration of its regulatory program.  The major tools used to interact with the public are public notices and public hearings.  The public notice is the primary method of advising all interested parties of a proposed activity for which a permit is sought.  The public notice is used to solicit comments and information necessary to evaluate the activity's foreseeable beneficial and detrimental impacts on the public interest.  Public notices also contain a statement that any person may request, in writing, that a public hearing be held to provide information for use in the evaluation of the permit application.  A public hearing is held when the district engineer determines that a public hearing is necessary to make a decision on a permit application.  A public notice is issued to announce the time and date of the public hearing.

Any project for which an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared is subject to additional public involvement.  The preparation of an EIS is governed by regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act.  The first stage of EIS development is the scoping process, which is used to identify substantive issues for further study in the EIS.  The scoping process begins with the publication of a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS.  The availability of the draft EIS is announced through public notice.  The purpose of that public notice is to announce the availability of the draft EIS for public review and to solicit comments on the draft EIS and the proposed work that requires a Corps permit.  Also, a public hearing may be requested.  The Corps may decide to hold a public hearing when the draft EIS is made available for comment. In those cases, the public hearing announcement will be incorporated into the notice of availability of the draft EIS.  When the final EIS has been prepared, a public notice is issued to announce the availability of the final EIS.  The record of decision for an EIS cannot be issued until 30 days have passed from the date of the public notice announcing the availability of the final EIS. 
 Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines
The Section 404(b)(1) guidelines are the criteria used to evaluate discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including jurisdictional wetlands, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. A fundamental principle of the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines is that dredged or fill material should not be discharged into wetlands and other waters, unless it can be demonstrated that the discharge will not have unacceptable adverse impacts on those waters.

The Section 404(b)(1) guidelines also require the following determinations:
(1) the project is the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative (LEDPA),
(2) the project will not cause or contribute to the violation of applicable Federal or state laws, e.g.: water quality standards, Endangered Species Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Wild and Scenic River or designated Study River;
(3) the project will not result in significant degradation of waters of the United States, and
(4) any appropriate and practicable steps have been taken to minimize the adverse impacts of the project on wetlands and other waters
 Standard Permit
The basic form of authorization used by the Corps' permitting process is the standard permit. Processing such permits involves evaluation of individual, project specific applications in what can be considered three steps: preapplication consultation (for major projects), project review, and decision-making.

The following is a general description of the step-by-step procedure the Corps uses to evaluate a typical standard permit application:
1).  A pre-application consultation is recommended
2).  The applicant submits a Joint Application for Permit (within the State of Idaho) to the appropriate Corps regulatory office
3).  The Corps receives the application and assigns it an identification number
4).  The Corps notifies the applicant if additional information is required to make the application complete, called a "Request for Information".
5).  A public notice is issued within 15 days of receipt of a complete application, to solicit comments from the public, adjacent property owners, interested groups and individuals, local agencies, state agencies, Federal agencies and/or Tribes
6).  The public notice comment period is 15 to 30 days, depending upon nature of activity
7).  The Corps provides the applicant an opportunity to respond to comments received in response to the public notice
8).  The Corps may ask the applicant to provide additional information to assess environmental impacts or resolve public interest concerns; the Corps may also ask the applicant to modify the project to reduce environmental impacts
9).  The Corps considers all comments and the applicant’s responses to those comments, including any proposed modifications of the project; the Corps may discuss project modifications with state and Federal agencies and other interested parties
10).  A public hearing is held, if necessary
11).  The Corps conducts a public interest review evaluation and, if necessary, a section 404(b)(1) guidelines evaluation
12).  The Corps makes a decision on the permit application and explains its decision in a decision document. This decision document may include an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, a statement of findings or record of decision, a Section 404(b)(1) guidelines evaluation (if necessary), and a public interest review evaluation.
13).  If the Corps decides to issue the permit, a copy of the permit is sent to the applicant for his or her signature. If the applicant signs the permit, he or she agrees to the terms and conditions of the permit. If the permit is denied, the Corps will explain to the applicant why the permit was denied.
14).  If the applicant refuses to sign the permit because he or she does not agree with the conditions in the permit, or if the permit is denied, the applicant can request an administrative appeal of the permit decision 
 Terms and Definitions

This section provides abridged definitions of commonly used terms that are associated with the Corps' regulatory program.  For the complete definitions provided in the Corps' regulations, please refer to the Code of Federal Regulations (33 CFR Parts 320 through 331):  

404(b)(1) Guidelines (40 CFR Part 230) are the criteria used in evaluating discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including jurisdictional wetlands, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.  The 404(b)(1) guidelines provide procedures used to evaluate the impacts of discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. These guidelines restrict discharges of dredged or fill material where less environmentally damaging practicable alternatives exist.

Activity(ies) regulated by the Corps include the construction, modification, or removal of structures and other work (such as dredging) in navigable waters of the United States.  Other activities that the Corps regulates include discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including jurisdictional wetlands.

Alternatives analysis is the process the Corps uses to determine, based upon available information, whether the proposed project is the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative.  An alternative is practicable if it is available to the applicant and is capable of being done after considering costs, existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project purposes.

Authorization means that specific activities that qualify for a general permit may proceed, provided that the terms and conditions of the general permit are met.

Coastal Zone Management Act consistency determination means a finding that an activity that affects land or water uses or natural resources in a state’s coastal zone is in compliance or not in compliance with that state’s Federally-approved Coastal Zone Management Act Program. (See 33 CFR 330.4(d)(1) and 33 CFR 325.2(b)(2).)

Compensatory Mitigation means, for the purposes of the Corps regulatory program, the restoration, establishment, enhancement, or protection/maintenance of wetlands and/or other aquatic resources for the purpose of compensating for unavoidable adverse impacts which remain after all appropriate and practicable avoidance and minimization have been achieved.

Date determined complete means the date on which the Corps determined that the application contained the information required by 33 CFR 325.1(d)(9) for standard permits, General Condition 31 for nationwide permits, or the conditions of regional or programmatic general permits.

Date received complete means the date of receipt for all information required by 33 CFR 325.1(d)(9) for standard permits, General Condition 31 for nationwide permits, or the conditions of regional or programmatic general permits.  For standard permits, this is the date that starts the 15 day clock for public notices.  For nationwide permits, this is the date that starts the 45 day pre-construction notification review period.

Denied with prejudice means that the request for a Corps permit is denied because the proposed work is contrary to the public interest and/or does not comply with the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines.

Denied without prejudice means that the permit applicant can reinstate processing of the permit application if subsequent approval is received from the appropriate Federal, state, or local agency that previously denied authorization.

Discharge of dredged material means any addition of dredged material into, including redeposit of dredged material other than incidental fallback within, the waters of the United States (See 33 CFR 323.2(d) for the complete definition of this term).

Discharge of fill material means the addition of fill material into waters of the United States.  (See 33 CFR 323.2[f] for the complete definition of this term).

Dredged material is material that is excavated or dredged from waters of the United States.

Fill material means material placed in waters of the United States where the material has the effect of: (1) Replacing any portion of a water of the United States with dry land; or (2) Changing the bottom elevation of any portion of a water of the United States. Examples of such fill material include, but are not limited to: rock, sand, soil, clay, plastics, construction debris, wood chips, overburden from mining or other excavation activities, and materials used to create any structure or infrastructure in the waters of the United States.  The term fill material does not include rash or garbage. (See 33 CFR 323.2(e) for the complete definition of this term.)

General permit means a Department of the Army authorization that is issued on a nationwide or regional basis for a category or categories of activities that are substantially similar in nature and cause only minimal individual or cumulative environmental impacts.  A general permit can be issued on a nationwide, regional, or programmatic basis.

High tide line is a line or mark left upon a tidal flat, a beach, or along the shore that indicates the intersection of the land with the water's surface at the maximum height reached by a rising tide. The high tide line may be determined by tidal gages, physical markings or characteristics, vegetation lines, a more or less continuous deposit of fine shell or debris on the foreshore or berm, or other suitable means such as a line of oil or scum along the shore that delineate the general height reached by a rising tide. The term includes spring high tides and other high tides that occur with periodic frequency, but does not include storm surges in which there is a departure from the normal or predicted reach of the tide due to the piling up of water against a coast by strong winds such as those accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm.

Incidental fallback is the redeposit of small volumes of dredged material that is incidental to excavation activity in waters of the United States when such material falls back to substantially the same place as the initial removal.  Examples of incidental fallback include soil that is disturbed when dirt is shoveled and the back-spill that comes off a bucket when such small volume of soil or dirt falls into substantially the same place from which it was initially removed. (See 33 CFR 323.2(d)(2)(ii) for the complete definition of this term.)

Individual permit means a standard permit or a letter of permission.

Jurisdictional determination means a written Corps determination that a wetland and/or waterbody is subject to regulatory jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act or a written determination that a waterbody is subject to regulatory jurisdiction under Sections 9 or 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. (See 33 CFR 331.2 for the complete definition of this term.)

Letters of permission are a type of permit issued through an abbreviated processing procedure which includes coordination with Federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, as required by the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and a public interest evaluation, but without the publishing of an individual public notice.  A letter of permission cannot be used to authorize the transportation of dredged material for the purpose of dumping it in ocean waters.

Mitigation means avoiding, minimizing, rectifying, reducing, or compensating for resource losses.

Nationwide permits are a type of general permit issued by the Chief of Engineers to authorize, with little delay or paperwork, activities across the country that have minimal adverse environmental impacts.

Navigable waters of the United States are those waters of the United States that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide shoreward to the mean high water line and/or those waters that are presently used, or have been used in the past or may be susceptible to use for interstate or foreign commerce.  These are waters that are navigable in the traditional sense.  Permits are required in these waters pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act.  This term should not be confused with the term “waters of the United States”, which is defined below.

Ordinary high water line, with respect to non-tidal waters, is the line on the shore established by the fluctuations of water and indicated by physical characteristics such as a clear, natural line impressed upon the bank, shelving, changes in the character of soil, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, the presence of litter and debris, or other appropriate means that consider the characteristics of the surrounding areas.

Pre-application meeting is a meeting between Corps staff and a potential permit applicant and/or agent regarding a proposed activity within the Corps regulatory jurisdiction. The meeting may also involve representatives of Federal and state resource agencies. The meeting may involve discussions of jurisdiction, practicable alternatives, environmental documents, National Environmental Policy Act procedures, and mitigation. Such meetings often benefit the applicant by providing useful information which could prevent delays during permit evaluation. For dredging permits, a pre-application meeting may facilitate the process by determining what, if any, sediment testing may be required.

Pre-construction notification (PCN) means advance notification to be submitted to a district engineer, so that the district engineer can determine whether the proposed work qualifies for nationwide permit authorization (see General Condition 31 of the nationwide permits).

Programmatic general permits are a type of general permit founded on an existing state, local, or other Federal agency program and are designed to avoid duplication with that program.

Public hearings are held to acquire additional information in connection with a permit application.  The Corps may conduct a hearing or participate in joint public hearings with other Federal or state agencies.  In addition, any person may request a public hearing in writing during the comment period specified in the public notice.  Specific reasons must be given as to the need for a hearing. Public hearings are held at times and places that are convenient for the interested public.  A public hearing is occasionally needed to complete the decision process.

Public interest review refers to the evaluation of a proposed activity to determine whether issuance of the permit is in the public interest. Expected benefits are balanced against reasonably foreseeable detriments.  All relevant public interest factors are weighed.  The Corps policy is to provide each applicant with a timely and carefully weighed decision which reflects the public interest.

Public notice is the primary method of advising interested public agencies and private parties of a proposed activity.  The public notice is used to solicit comments and information necessary to evaluate the probable impacts of the project on the public interest. Upon request, the Corps will add anyone's name to the distribution list to receive public notices.

Regional permit (or regional general permit) means a type of general permit issued by a division or district engineer after public notice and comment.  If the public interest so requires, the division or district engineer may condition the regional permit to require a case-by-case reporting and acknowledgment system.  However, no separate applications or other authorization documents will be required.

Standard permit means a permit that has been processed through the public interest review procedures, including public notice and receipt of comments.

Tidal waters are those waters that rise and fall in a predictable and measurable rhythm or cycle due to gravitational pulls of the moon and sun. Tidal waters end where the rise and fall of the water surface can no longer be practicably measured in a predictable rhythm due to masking by hydrologic, wind, or other effects.

Water quality certification (WQC) means that a state, Tribe, or the Environmental Protection Agency has issued or waived a Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification for an activity that involves discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. If water quality certification is denied, the Corps permit is denied without prejudice.

Waters of the United States is a broader term than “navigable waters of the United States,” which is defined above.  This term includes navigable waters and all their tributaries, adjacent wetlands and other waters or wetlands where degradation or destruction could affect interstate or foreign commerce.

Permits are required for the discharge of dredged or fill material in these waters pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

Wetlands means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration to support, and that under normal circumstances support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas. 


 The Evaluation Process
The following general criteria are considered in evaluating all applications:
1. The relevant extent of public and private need for the proposed work;
2. Where unresolved conflicts of resource use exist, the practicability of using reasonable alternative locations and methods to accomplish the objective of the proposed structure or work;
3. The extent and permanence of the beneficial and/or detrimental effects the proposed structure or work is likely to have on public and private uses to which the area is suited.

The decision to issue or deny a permit is based on the public interest review and, where applicable, a Section 404(b)(1) guidelines analysis or an analysis of the ocean dumping criteria. The public interest review involves an analysis of the foreseeable impacts the proposed work would have on public interest factors, such as navigation, general environmental concerns, wetlands, economics, fish and wildlife values, land use, floodplain values, and the needs and welfare of the people. The benefits and detriments to all public interest factors relevant to each case are carefully evaluated. The permit decision document includes a discussion of the environmental impacts of the project, the findings of the public interest review process, and any special evaluation required by the type of activity, such as determining compliance with the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines or ocean dumping criteria. Nationwide Permits are issued at the national level and are valid for five (5) years. Individual Permits are issued at the district level. The terms and conditions of an Individual Permit are made on a project-by-project basis.

No permit is granted if the proposed project is found to be contrary to the public interest. If the proposed work involves discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, no permit is granted if the proposed activity is found to be contrary to the Section 404(b)(1) guidelines.

The Corps supports strong partnerships with states in regulating water resource development activities. Such partnerships can be achieved through joint permit processing procedures (e.g., joint permit applications, public notices and public hearings), as well as programmatic general permits founded on effective state programs, transfer of the Section 404 program to states, special area management planning and regional conditioning of nationwide permits.
 Water Quality Certification

Section 401 of the Clean Water Act requires any applicant for a permit for an activity that may result in the discharge of a pollutant into waters of the United States to obtain a certification that the discharge will comply with applicable effluent limitations and water quality standards. 

Water quality certifications are required for Corps permits that authorize discharges of dredged or fill materials into waters of the United States. 

Applications for a project located within the State of Idaho are reviewed by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.  Applications for project(s) located within the southern 1/3 of Coeur d'Alene Lake and the lower St. Joe River within the Ceour d'Alene Reservation are reviewed by the the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.  Applications for project(s) located within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation are reviewed by the Shoshone Bannock, Fort Hall Tribes.  All other project(s) located within an established Tribal Reservation boundary are reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 


 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

As outlined in the January 6, 2017 Federal Register, General Condition 16 specifically states:

(a) No NWP 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.

(b) If a proposed NWP activity will 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, the permittee must submit a pre-construction notification (see general condition 32).  The district engineer will coordinate the PCN with the Federal agency with direct management responsibility for that river.  The permittee shall not begin the NWP activity until notified by the district engineer that the Federal agency with direct management responsibility for that river has determined in writing that the proposed NWP activity will not adversely affect the Wild and Scenic River designation or study status.

Visit the National Wild and Scenic Rivers website to see if your project is located on a wild and scenic river system or in a study river. 

Or, contact your local Corps Field Office for further information.

Overview of Permits

The Walla Walla District Corps of Engineers and State of Idaho use a Joint Application for Permit form.  It is important that you provide complete information in the requested format to properly process the application.  The information provided will be used to evaluate the proposed activity or project and to determine the appropriate authorization and type of permit that can be issued.

Some activities may fall within the guidelines of previously authorized categories and a nationwide or a regional permit can be issued with no further Corps approvals required.  Other activities may fall within the guidelines of an abbreviated permit processing, requiring a letter of permission to authorize the activities in less than 30 days.  Other activities may require a Public Notice to be issued, where notification of Federal, state, and local agencies, adjacent property owners, and the general public allows the opportunity for review, comment, or to request a public hearing.  Most applications involving Public Notices are completed within four months and many are completed in as little as 60 days.

The processing of an application begins immediately upon receipt of ALL required information, which includes a completed application, vicinity map, plan view and section view drawings, adjacent property notification (if required), and any other project specific information.  Proposed activities then undergo a public interest review.  The application is reviewed, balancing the need and expected benefits against the probable impacts of the activity/project, taking into consideration all comments received and other relevant factors.  The goal is to reach a decision to issue a permit or denial within 60 days after receipt of the completed application.  Although some activities, circumstances, issues, and/or requirements of law may be more complex and additional time beyond the 60 days may be required.

For specific information on the Joint Application for Permit, the evaluation process, or the status an existing application, please contact the local Field Office nearest the location of where the work activities will be conducted. 

Application Process/Procedure

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 Application Procedure

Below is an outline of the basic application process, based on submission of a typical and complete application:

  • Pre-application consultation – optional
  • Applicant submits a Joint Application for Permit to the appropriate field office
  • Application is received* and assigned to a Project Manger
  • Incomplete applications are returned for correction/completeness
  • Application is reviewed** and assigned a Department of Army (DA) identification number
  • If activities fall within general permit (nationwide or regional) guidelines/categories, a permit is issued
  • If activities qualify for an abbreviated permit processing, a letter of permission is issued
  • If activities require a public notice, within 15 days of receiving all information - Federal, state, local agencies, special interest groups, the general public, etc. are notified via a Public Notice announcement
  • Corps considers all comments received
  • Other federal agencies are consulted - if appropriate
  • Corps may ask applicant for additional information
  • Public hearing held - if needed
  • Corps makes a final decision
  • Permit issued or denied – applicant advised of reason(s)
All applications undergo an evaluation based on a public interest review.  This review assesses the balance between the proposed activity’s need and expected benefits against the probable impacts of the activity/project, taking into consideration all comments received and any other relevant factors. Benefits and detriments are balanced by considering effects on items such as:
  • Conservation
  • Economics
  • Aesthetics
  • General environmental concerns
  • Wetlands
  • Cultural values
  • Flood hazards
  • Flood plain values
  • Food production
  • Navigation
  • Recreation
  • Water supply & conservation
  • Water quality
  • Energy needs
  • Safety
  • Public welfare

 Application Process

The following general criteria from Section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act will be considered in the evaluation of every application:

  • The relative extent of the public and private need for the proposed activity;
  • The practicability of using reasonable alternative locations and methods to accomplish the objective of the proposed activity; and
  • The extent and permanence of the beneficial and/or detrimental effects which the proposed activity is likely to have on the public and private uses to which the area is suited

Types of Permits

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 Types of Permits

Application procedures may vary slightly from Corps District to Corps District.  This is primarily due to requirements specific to each permit, the type of activity, and appropriate permit type.  Permit types include Letter of Permission (LOP), Individual Permit (IP), Regional General Permit (RGP), and Nationwide Permits (NWP).

A signed Application for Permit is required to start the evaluation process. 

Contact your local Field Office for additional information.


 Letter of Permission (LOP)

A Letter of Permission, or LOP, is a type of individual permit that is issued in an abbreviated manner.  A Letter of Permission may be issued if work is minor or routine, contains minimum impacts, and objections are unlikely.  Minor structures that do not qualify for a Regional General or a Nationwide permit may qualify for a Letter of Permission.

This permit type is evaluated by both Federal and State agencies and adjacent property owners for 15 days and is typically approved within 45 to 60 days.  A Letter of Permission can be issued much more quickly than a standard permit because an individual public notice is not required.

To see if your proposed activities qualify for a Letter of Permission, contact the local Field Office where the activity will be located.  A complete application form, a Vicinity Map, one set of plan-view drawings, and one set of section-view drawings must also be submitted with the application. 


 Individual Permits (IP)

Individual Permits are issued following a full public notice interest review of an individual application for a Department of Army permit.  A public notice is distributed to all known interested persons.  After evaluating all comments and information received, a final decision on the application is made.

The final decision is made on a case-by-case evaluation and is generally based on the outcome of the public notice process and a determination of project benefits versus detriments (losses).  A permit will most likely be granted unless the proposal is found to be contrary to the public interest. 

Processing time takes approximately 120 days after the complete application packet has been submitted, unless a public hearing is required or an environmental statement must be prepared.

To apply for an Individual permit, a complete Application Form, a Vicinity Map, one set of plan-view drawings, and one set of section-view drawings must be submitted to the appropriate Field Office.
 Nationwide Permits (NWP)

A Nationwide Permit (NWP) is a general permit that authorizes a category of activities throughout the nation by streamlining the approval process for certain types of activities that have minimal impacts to aquatic resources.  These permits are valid only if the conditions applicable to the permit are met.  If the conditions cannot be met, a regional or individual permit will be required.  

Nationwide permits are regulated by 33 CFR Part 330 for certain specified activities.  In most cases, the formal evaluation of a permit application is not required because nationwide permits have already been issued to the public at large by the Corps of Engineers and Congress. 

Examples include fish and wildlife harvesting devices; structures for the exploration, production, and transportation of oil, gas, and minerals; and activities required for the construction, expansion, modification, or improvement of linear transportation projects. 

To apply for a Nationwide Permit, a complete Application Form, a Vicinity Map, one set of plan-view drawings, and one set of section-view drawings must be submitted to the appropriate Field Office


 Regional General Permits (RGP)

Regional General Permits (RGPs) may be granted for activities that cause only a minimal cumulative impact.

Determining factors for the District Engineer to issue a Regional Permit (for a general category of activities) are:

  1. Are activities similar in nature and cause minimal environmental impacts, both individually and cumulatively? 

    AND

  2. Will the regional permit reduces duplication of regulatory control by State and Federal agencies?

Examples of Regional Permits may include activities necessary during the emergency to prevent the loss of life, significant loss of property, or economic hardship; and specific work activities in Pend Oreille Lake and Pend Oreille River

To apply for a Regional General (RGP) permit, a complete application form, a vicinity map, one set of plan-view drawings, and one set of section-view drawings must be submitted to the appropriate Field Office