Proposal To Reissue and Modify Nationwide Permits

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE <SUBAGY>Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers</SUBAGY> <CFR>33 CFR Chapter II</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket Number: COE-2025-0002]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 0710-AB56</RIN> <SUBJECT>Proposal To Reissue and Modify Nationwide Permits</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Corps of Engineers, Army, DoD. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Notice of proposed rulemaking. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> Nationwide Permits (NWPs) are issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to authorize categories of activities under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 that have no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. The Corps is proposing to reissue its existing NWPs and associated general conditions and definitions, with some modifications. The Corps is proposing to issue one new NWP. The proposed new NWP would authorize activities to improve the passage of fish and other aquatic organisms through aquatic ecosystems. In addition, the Corps is proposing to modify some other NWPs to simplify and clarify those NWPs. The proposed modifications to the NWPs general conditions, and definitions are intended to reduce burdens on the regulated public and continue to comply with the statutory requirement that NWPs authorize only activities with no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. The Corps is proposing to modify two of the 2021 NWPs ( <E T="03">i.e.,</E> NWP 48 for commercial shellfish mariculture activities and NWP 56 for finfish mariculture activities) to address litigation on those NWPs. The Corps is requesting comment on all aspects of these proposed NWPs. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> Submit comments on or before July 18, 2025. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> You may submit comments, identified by docket number COE-2025-0002 and/or RIN 0710-AB56, by any of the following methods: <E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.</E> Follow the instructions for submitting comments. <E T="03">Email: 2026nationwidepermits@usace.army.mil.</E> Include the docket number, COE-2025-0002, in the subject line of the message. <E T="03">Mail:</E> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CECW-CO-R, 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20314-1000. <E T="03">Hand Delivery/Courier:</E> Due to security requirements, we cannot receive comments by hand delivery or courier. <E T="03">Instructions:</E> If submitting comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, please direct your comments to docket number COE-2025-0002. All comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available on-line at <E T="03">http://www.regulations.gov,</E> including any personal information provided, unless the commenter indicates that the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI, or otherwise protected, through <E T="03">regulations.gov</E> or email. The <E T="03">regulations.gov</E> website is an anonymous access system, which means we will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email directly to the Corps without going through <E T="03">regulations.gov</E> your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the internet. <E T="03">Docket:</E> For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to <E T="03">regulations.gov</E> . All documents in the docket are listed. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, such as CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4), a summary of this rule may be found at <E T="03">www.regulations.gov,</E> in docket number COE-2025-0002. <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Ms. Katherine McCafferty at 513-310-4196 or access the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Home Page at <E T="03">https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. General</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Process for Modifying and Reissuing the NWPs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Status of Existing Permits</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Regional Conditioning of Nationwide Permits</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Nature-Based Solutions and the NWP Program</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Notes in NWPs for Utilities and Mariculture Activities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Severability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Summary of Proposed Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Discussion of Proposed Modifications to Existing Nationwide Permits</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Discussion of the Proposed New Nationwide Permit</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Discussion of Proposed Modifications to Nationwide Permit General Conditions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Discussion of Proposed Modification to Section D, “District Engineer's Decision”</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Discussion of Proposed Modifications to Section F, “Definitions”</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. Compliance With Relevant Statutes</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. National Environmental Policy Act Compliance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Compliance With Section 404(e) of the Clean Water Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Compliance With the Endangered Species Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Compliance With the Essential Fish Habitat Provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Compliance With Section 401 of the Clean Water Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Compliance With Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. Economic Impact</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">V. Administrative Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">VI. References</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">Authority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">Nationwide Permits, Conditions, Further Information, and Definitions</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">List of Acronyms</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CWA Clean Water Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DA Department of the Army</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">EFH Essential Fish Habitat</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">ESA Endangered Species Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FY Fiscal Year</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">GC General Condition</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NEPA National Environmental Policy Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NHPA National Historic Preservation Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NWP Nationwide Permit</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">PCN Pre-construction Notification</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">USCG U.S. Coast Guard</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">List of Proposed Nationwide Permits and General Conditions</HD> <EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD2">Nationwide Permits (NWPs)</HD> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">1. Aids to Navigation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">2. Structures in Artificial Canals</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">3. Maintenance</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">4. Fish and Wildlife Harvesting, Enhancement, and Attraction Devices and Activities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">5. Scientific Measurement Devices</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">6. Survey Activities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">7. Outfall Structures and Associated Intake Structures</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">8. Oil and Gas Structures on the Outer Continental Shelf</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">9. Structures in Fleeting and Anchorage Areas</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">10. Mooring Buoys</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">11. Temporary Recreational Structures</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">12. Oil or Natural Gas Pipeline Activities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">13. Bank Stabilization</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2"> 14. Linear Transportation Projects </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">15. U.S. Coast Guard Approved Bridges</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">16. Return Water From Upland Contained Disposal Areas</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">17. Hydropower Projects</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">18. Minor Discharges</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">19. Minor Dredging</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">20. Response Operations for Oil or Hazardous Substances</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">21. Surface Coal Mining Activities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">22. Removal of Vessels</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">23. Approved Categorical Exclusions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">24. Indian Tribe or State Administered Section 404 Programs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">25. Structural Discharges</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">26. [Reserved]</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">27. Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Enhancement, and Establishment Activities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">28. Modifications of Existing Marinas</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">29. Residential Developments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">30. Moist Soil Management for Wildlife</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">31. Maintenance of Existing Flood Control Facilities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">32. Completed Enforcement Actions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">33. Temporary Construction, Access, and Dewatering</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">34. Cranberry Production Activities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">35. Maintenance Dredging of Existing Basins</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">36. Boat Ramps</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">37. Emergency Watershed Protection and Rehabilitation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">38. Cleanup of Hazardous and Toxic Waste</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">39. Commercial and Institutional Developments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">40. Agricultural Activi ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 520k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━