GALVESTON, Texas – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District announced today that it will close its Regulatory Branch Office due to the absence of available federal funding. Regulatory staff will be unable to evaluate individual permit applications, pre-construction notifications (PCNs) for nationwide permits (NWP) or regional general permit authorizations, or requests for jurisdictional determinations until after current year funding is received and the office reopens.
During this time, should an emergency activity need to be conducted in waters or wetlands (requiring a Department of the Army authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899), contact (409) 766-3957.
NWP authorizations applicants are reminded that proposed NWP activities requiring PCNs must wait 45 days before beginning the activity (see 33 CFR 330.1(e)). Please note that certain NWP PCNs require a written response from the district before beginning the NWP activity.
Prospective applicants should ensure proposed activities comply with all NWP terms and conditions, including regional conditions. They must also obtain other required authorizations, such as a Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification or waiver (if the proposed activity involves a discharge into waters of the United States), or a Coastal Zone Management Act consistency concurrence (or waiver) if the proposed activity occurs in the coastal zone, prior to conducting NWP activities.
Regional conditions imposed on the 2012 NWPs are provided online at the Galveston District’s Regulatory Branch’s website at http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/BusinessWithUs/RegulatoryBranch/Permits/NationwideGeneralPermits.aspx. For more information regarding NWP visit http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/RegulatoryProgramandPermits/NationwidePermits.aspx. Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEgalveston.