St. Paul District Starts Using Nationwide Permits

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will begin using nationwide general permits for work in streams, wetlands, lakes and other waters within Minnesota and Wisconsin, including on federally-recognized Indian Reservations, April 24.

According to USACE, these permits are developed by the Corps’ Headquarters with feedback from the public and stakeholders. The permits allow for a streamlined regulatory process across the country for projects with minimal impacts to aquatic resources.

“Nationwide permits provide consistency and predictability for those seeking a Corps permit,” said Chad Konickson, St. Paul District regulatory chief. “These permits allow reasonable development while still protecting the aquatic environment by encouraging applicants to minimize impacts to qualify for this streamlined authorization.”

The district will use 42 separate nationwide permits, which cover activities such as maintenance, shoreline stabilization, residential developments, commercial and institutional developments, and aquatic restoration.

Regional conditions were developed by the district to ensure the permits appropriately address the types of development and aquatic resources found in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Prior to implementing the 2017 nationwide permits, the St. Paul District largely relied on regional general permits. Both types of permits are general permits that streamline the review process for activities with minimal adverse environmental impacts.

The St. Paul District processes approximately 3,500 permit decisions annually, and 95 percent of them are general permits.