Corps Plans to Issue New England General Permits

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, is proposing to suspend the existing general permits in each of the six New England states and issue the New England General Permits (NE GPs) to authorize certain activities that require Department of Army permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and Section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act.

The NE GPs would authorize activities in waters of the U.S. within the boundaries of and/or off the coasts of the six New England states (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine), including activities occurring within the boundaries of Indian tribal lands that have no more than minimal adverse effects on the aquatic environment.

The NE GPs would be issued in accordance with Corps regulations at 33 CFR 320-332.

Public comments on this proposal can be submitted to the Corps by September 15, 2014. An initial public notice on this proposal was issued in June 2013.

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Press Release, August 4, 2014