[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31492-31506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15001]
[[Page 31491]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Part V
Department of Defense
_______________________________________________________________________
Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers
_______________________________________________________________________
Regulatory Guidance Letters Issued by the Corps of Engineers; Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 110 / Monday, June 9, 1997 /
Notices
[[Page 31492]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers
Regulatory Guidance Letters Issued by the Corps of Engineers
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to provide current Regulatory
Guidance Letters (RGL's) to all interested parties. RGL's are used by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters as a means to transmit
guidance on the permit program (33 CFR 320-330) to its division and
district engineers (DE's). Each future RGL will be published in the
Notice Section of the Federal Register as a means to insure widest
dissemination of this information while reducing costs to the Federal
Government. The Corps no longer maintains a mailing list to furnish
copies of the RGL's to the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Ralph Eppard, Regulatory Branch, Office of the Chief of Engineers
at (202) 761-1783.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: RGL's were developed by the Corps as a
system to organize and track written guidance issued to its field
agencies. RGL's are normally issued as a result of evolving policy;
judicial decisions and changes to the Corps regulations or another
agency's regulations which affect the permit program. RGL's are used
only to interpret or clarify existing Regulatory Program policy, but do
provide mandatory guidance to the Corps district offices. RGL's are
sequentially numbered and expire on a specified date. However, unless
superseded by specific provisions of subsequently issued regulations or
RGL's, the guidance provided in RGL's generally remains valid after the
expiration date. The Corps incorporates most of the guidance provided
by RGL's whenever it revises its permit regulations.
We are hereby publishing all current RGL's beginning with RGL 92-1
and ending with RGL 96-2. RGL 91-1 expired on December 31, 1996, and
RGL 92-4 expired on January 21, 1997, and both have been removed from
this publication. We will continue to publish each RGL in the Notice
Section of the Federal Register upon issuance and in early 1998, we
will again publish the complete list of all current RGL's.
Dated: May 28, 1997.
For the Commander.
Robert W. Burkhardt,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Executive Director of Civil Works.
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 92-1)
RGL 92-1 Date: 13 May 1992, Expires: 31 December 1997
Subject: Federal Agencies Roles and Responsibilities.
1. Purpose
The purpose of this guidance is to clarify the Army Corps of
Engineers leadership and decision-making role as ``project manager''
for the evaluation of permit applications pursuant to Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act.
This guidance is also intended to encourage effective and efficient
coordination among prospective permittees, the Corps, and the Federal
resource agencies (i.e., Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Fish
and Wildlife Service (FWS), and National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS)). Implementation of this guidance will help to streamline the
permit process by minimizing delays and ensuring more timely decisions,
while providing a meaningful opportunity for substantive input from all
Federal agencies.
2. Background
(a) The Department of the Army Regulatory Program must operate in
an efficient manner in order to protect the aquatic environment and
provide fair, equitable, and timely decisions to the regulated public.
Clear leadership and a predictable decision-making framework will
enhance the public acceptance of the program and allow the program to
meet the important objective of effectively protecting the Nation's
valuable aquatic resources.
(b) On August 9, 1991, the President announced a comprehensive plan
for improving the protection of the Nation's wetlands. The plan seeks
to balance two important objectives--the protection, restoration, and
creation of wetlands and the need for sustained economic growth and
development. The plan, which is designed to slow and eventually stop
the net loss of wetlands, includes measures that will improve and
streamline the current wetlands regulatory system. This Regulatory
Guidance Letter is issued in accordance with the President's plan for
protecting wetlands.
(c) The intent of this guidance is to express clearly that the
Corps is the decision-maker and project manager for the Department of
Army's Regulatory Program. The Corps will consider, to the maximum
extent possible, all timely, project-related comments from other
Federal agencies when making regulatory decisions. Furthermore, the
Corps and relevant Federal agencies will maintain and improve as
necessary their working relationships.
(d) The Federal resource agencies have reviewed and concurred with
this guidance and have agreed to act in accordance with these
provisions. While this guidance does not restrict or impair the
exercise of legal authorities vested in the Federal resource agencies
or States under the CWA or other statutes and regulations (e.g., EPA's
authority under section 404(c), section 404(f), and CWA geographic
jurisdiction and FWS/NMFS authorities under the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act and the Endangered Species Act (ESA)), agency comments
on Department of the Army permit applications must be consistent with
the provisions contained in this regulatory letter.
3. The Corps Project Management/Decision Making Role
(a) The Corps is solely responsible for making final permit
decisions pursuant to section 10 and section 404(a), including final
determinations of compliance with the Corps permit regulations, the
Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines, and Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA. As such,
the Corps will act as the project manager for the evaluation of all
permit applications. The Corps will advise potential applicants of its
role as the project manager and decision-maker. This guidance does not
restrict EPA's authority to make determinations of compliance with the
Guidelines in carrying out its responsibilities under Sections 309 and
404(c) of the Clean Water Act.
(b) As the project manager, the Corps is responsible for requesting
and evaluating information concerning all permit applications. The
Corps will obtain and utilize this information in a manner that moves,
as rapidly as practical, the regulatory process towards a final permit
decision. The Corps will not evaluate applications as a project
opponent or advocate--but instead will maintain an objective
evaluation, fully considering all relevant factors.
(c) The Corps will fully consider other Federal agencies' project-
related comments when determining compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines, the
ESA, the National Historic Preservation Act, and other relevant
statutes, regulations, and policies. The Corps will also fully consider
the agencies' views when determining whether to issue the permit, to
issue the permit with
[[Page 31493]]
conditions and/or mitigation, or to deny the permit.
4. The Federal Resource Agencies' Role
(a) It is recognized that the Federal resource agencies have an
important role in the Department of the Army Regulatory Program under
the CWA, NEPA, ESA, Magnuson Fisheries Conservation and Management Act,
and other relevant statutes.
(b) When providing comments, Federal resource agencies will submit
to the Corps only substantive, project-related information on the
impacts of activities being evaluated by the Corps and appropriate and
practicable measures to mitigate adverse impacts. The comments will be
submitted within the time frames established in interagency agreements
and regulations. Federal resource agencies will limit their comments to
their respective areas of expertise and authority to avoid duplication
with the Corps and other agencies and to provide the Corps with a sound
basis for making permit decisions. The Federal resource agencies should
not submit comments that attempt to interpret the Corps regulations or
for the purposes of section 404(a) make determinations concerning
compliance with the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines. Pursuant to its
authority under Section 404(b)(1) of the CWA, the EPA may provide
comments to the Corps identifying its views regarding compliance with
the Guidelines. While the Corps will fully consider and utilize agency
comments, the final decision regarding the permit application,
including a determination of compliance with the Guidelines, rests
solely with the Corps.
5. Pre-Application Consultation
(a) To provide potential applicants with the maximum degree of
relevant information at an early phase of project planning, the Corps
will increase its efforts to encourage pre-application consultations in
accordance with regulations at 33 CFR 325.1(b). Furthermore, while
encouraging pre-application consultation, the Corps will emphasize the
need for early consultation concerning mitigation requirements, if
impacts to aquatic resources may occur. The Corps is responsible for
initiating, coordinating, and conducting pre-application consultations
and other discussions and meetings with applicants regarding Department
of the Army permits. This may not apply in instances where the
consultation is associated with the review of a separate permit or
license required from another Federal agency (e.g., the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) or in
situations where resource agencies perform work for others outside the
context of a specific Department of the Army permit application (e.g.,
the Conservation Reserve Program and technical assistance to applicants
of Federal grants).
(b) For those pre-application consultations involving activities
that may result in impacts to aquatic resources, the Corps will provide
EPA, FWS, NMFS (as appropriate), and other appropriate Federal and
State agencies, a reasonable opportunity to participate in the pre-
application process. The invited agencies will participate to the
maximum extent possible in the pre-application consultation, since this
is generally the best time to consider alternatives for avoiding or
reducing adverse impacts. To the extent practical, the Corps and the
Federal resource agencies will develop local procedures (e.g.,
teleconferencing) to promote reasonable and effective pre-application
consultations within the logistical constraints of all affected
parties.
6. Applications for Individual Permits
(a) The Corps is responsible for determining the need for, and the
coordination of, interagency meetings, requests for information, and
other interactions between permit applicants and the Federal
Government. In this regard, Federal resource agencies will contact the
Corps to discuss and coordinate any additional need for information
from the applicant. The Corps will cooperate with the Federal resource
agencies to ensure, to the extent practical, that information necessary
for the agencies to carry out their responsibilities is obtained. If it
is determined by the Corps that an applicant meeting is necessary for
the exchange of information with a Federal resource agency and the
Corps chooses not to participate in such a meeting, the Federal
resource agency will apprise the Corps, generally in writing, of that
agency's discussions with the applicant. Notwithstanding such meetings,
the Corps is solely responsible for permit requirements, including
mitigation and other conditions--the Federal resource agencies must not
represent their views as regulatory requirements. In circumstances
where the Corps meets with the applicant and develops information that
will affect the permit decision, the Corps will apprise the Federal
resource agencies of such information.
(b) Consistent with 33 CFR part 325, the Corps will ensure that
public notices contain sufficient information to facilitate the timely
submittal of project-specific comments from the Federal resource
agencies. The resource agencies comments will provide specific
information and/or data related to the proposed project site. The Corps
will fully consider comments regarding the site from a watershed or
landscape scale, including an evaluation of potential cumulative and
secondary impacts.
(c) The Corps must consider cumulative impacts in reaching permit
decisions. In addition to the Corps own expertise and experience, the
Corps will fully consider comments from the Federal resource agencies,
which can provide valuable information on cumulative impacts.
Interested Federal agencies are encouraged to provide periodically to
the Corps generic comments and assessments of impacts (outside the
context of a specific permit application) on issues within the
agencies' area of expertise.
7. General Permits
(a) The Corps is responsible for proposing potential general
permits, assessing impacts of and comments on proposed general permits,
and deciding whether to issue general permits. The Corps will consider
proposals for general permits from other sources, including the Federal
resource agencies, although the final decision regarding the need to
propose a general permit rests with the Corps. Other interested Federal
agencies should provide comments to the Corps on proposed general
permits. These Federal agency comments will be submitted consistent
with established agreements and regulations and will focus on the
Federal agencies' area(s) of expertise. The Corps will fully consider
such agencies' comments in deciding whether to issue general permits,
including programmatic general permits.
(b) The Corps is responsible for initiating and conducting meetings
that may be necessary in developing and evaluating potential general
permits. Any discussions with a State or local Government regarding
proposed programmatic general permits will be coordinated through and
conducted by the Corps. Prior to issuing a programmatic general permit,
the Corps will ensure that the State or local program, by itself or
with appropriate conditions, will protect the aquatic environment,
including wetlands, to the level required by the section 404 program.
8. This guidance expires 31 December 1997 unless sooner revised or
rescinded.
[[Page 31494]]
For the Commander.
Arthur E. Williams,
Major General, USA, Director of Civil Works.
Regulatory Guidance Letter (92-3)
RGL 92-3, Date: 19 Aug 92, Expires: 31 Dec 97
Subject: Extension of Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL) 86-10 RGL 86-10,
subject: ``Special Area Management Plans (SAMP's)'' is extended until
31 December 1997 unless sooner revised or rescinded.
For the Director of Civil Works.
John P. Elmore,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works.
RGL 96-10
Special Area Management Plans (SAMP's)
Issued 10/2/86, Expired 12/31/88
1. The 1980 Amendments to the Coastal Zone Management Act define
the SAMP process as ``a comprehensive plan providing for natural
resource protection and reasonable coastal-dependent economic growth
containing a detailed and comprehensive statement of policies,
standards and criteria to guide public and private uses of lands and
waters; and mechanisms for timely implementation in specific geographic
areas within the coastal zone.'' This process of collaborative
interagency planning within a geographic area of special sensitivity is
just as applicable in non-coastal areas.
2. A good SAMP reduces the problems associated with the traditional
case-by-case review. Developmental interests can plan with
predictability and environmental interests are assured that individual
and cumulative impacts are analyzed in the context of broad ecosystem
needs.
3. Because SAMP's are very labor intensive, the following
ingredients should usually exist before a district engineer becomes
involved in a SAMP:
a. The area should be environmentally sensitive and under strong
developmental pressure.
b. There should be a sponsoring local agency to ensure that the
plan fully reflects local needs and interests.
c. Ideally there should be full public involvement in the planning
and development process.
d. All parties must express a willingness at the outset to conclude
the SAMP process with a definitive regulatory product (see next
paragraph).
4. An ideal SAMP would conclude with two products: (1) Appropriate
local/State approvals and a Corps general permit (GP) or abbreviated
processing procedure (APP) for activities in specifically defined
situations; and (2) a local/State restriction and/or an environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) 404(c) restriction (preferably both) for
undesirable activities. An individual permit review may be conducted
for activities that do not fall into either category above. However, it
should represent a small number of the total cases addressed by the
SAMP. We recognize that an ideal SAMP is difficult to achieve, and,
therefore, it is intended to represent an upper limit rather than an
absolute requirement.
5. Do not assume that an environmental impact statement is
automatically required to develop a SAMP.
6. EPA's program for advance identification of disposal areas found
at 40 CFR 230.80 can be integrated into a SAMP process.
7. In accordance with this guidance, district engineers are
encouraged to participate in development of SAMP's. However, since
development of a SAMP can require a considerable investment of time,
resources, and money, the SAMP process should be entered only if it is
likely to result in a definitive regulatory product as defined in
paragraph 4. above.
8. This guidance expires 31 December 1988 unless sooner revised or
rescinded.
For the Chief of Engineers.
Peter J. Offringa,
Brigadier General, USA, Deputy Director of Civil Works.
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 92-5)
RGL 92-5, Date: 29 October 1992, Expires: 31 December 1997
Subject: Alternatives Analysis Under the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines
for Projects Subject to Modification Under the Clean Air Act.
1. Enclosed for implementation is a joint Army Corps of Engineers/
Environmental Protection Agency Memorandum to the Field on alternatives
analysis for existing power plants that must be modified to meet
requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act. This guidance was developed
jointly by the Corps and EPA.
2. This guidance expires 31 December 1997 unless sooner revised or
rescinded.
For the Director of Civil Works.
John P. Elmore,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works.
EPA/Corps Joint Memorandum for the Field
Subject: Alternatives Analysis under the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines
for Projects Subject to Modification Under the Clean Air Act
1. The 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments require most electric
generating plants to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide in phases
beginning in 1995 and requiring full compliance by 2010. The
congressional endorsement of the industry's ability to select the most
effective compliance method (e.g., sulfur dioxide scrubbers, low sulfur
coal, or other methods) recognizes the expertise of the industry in
these cases and is a fundamental element in the CAA market-based
pollution control program. Given the need for cooling water, a
substantial number of electric power generating plants are located
adjacent, or in close proximity, to waters of the United States,
including wetlands. Depending on the method chosen by the plants to
reduce emissions, we expect that these facilities will be applying for
Clean Water Act Section 404 permits for certain proposed activities.
2. The analysis and regulation under Section 404 of the Clean Water
Act of activities in waters of the United States conducted by specific
power plants to comply with the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments must
ensure protection of the aquatic environment consistent with the
requirements of the Clean Water Act. The review of applications for
such projects will fully consider, consistent with requirements under
the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines, all practicable alternatives
including non-aquatic alternatives, for proposed discharges associated
with the method selected by the utility to comply with the 1990 Clean
Air Act amendments. For the purposes of the Section 404(b)(1)
Guidelines analysis, the project purpose will be that pollutant
reduction method selected by the permit applicant.
3. For example, a utility may have decided to install sulfur
dioxide scrubbers on an existing power plant in order to meet the new
1990 Clean Air Act standards. The proposed construction of the
scrubbers, treatment ponds and a barge unloading facility could impact
wetlands. In this case, the Section 404 review would evaluate
practicable alternative locations and configurations for the scrubbers,
ponds and of the docking facilities. The analysis will also consider
practicable alternatives which satisfy the project purpose (i.e.,
installing scrubbers) but which have a less adverse impact on the
aquatic environment or do not involve discharges into waters of the
United States. However, in order to best effectuate Congressional
intent reflected in the CAA that electric utilities retain
[[Page 31495]]
flexibility to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions in the most cost
effective manner, the Section 404 review should not evaluate
alternative methods of complying with the Clean Air Act standards not
selected by the applicant (e.g., in this example use of low sulfur
coal).
4. In evaluating the scope of practicable alternatives which
satisfy the project purpose (e.g., constructing additional scrubber
capacity), the alternatives analysis should not be influenced by the
possibility that, based on a conclusion that practicable upland
alternatives are available to the applicant, the project proponent may
decide to pursue other options for meeting Clean Air Act requirements.
Continuing the above example, a Corps determination that practicable
upland alternatives are available for scrubber waste disposal should
not be affected by the possibility that an applicant may subsequently
decide to select a different method for meeting the Clean Air Act
standards (e.g., use of low sulfur coal that reduces waste generated by
scrubbers).
5. The Corps and EPA will also recognize the tight time-frames
under which the industry must meet these new air quality standards.
Robert H. Wayland,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds.
John P. Elmore,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division; Directorate of
Civil Works.
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 93-1)
RGL 93-1, Issued: April 20, 1993, Expires: December 31, 1998 CECW-OR
Subject: Provisional Permits
1. Purpose: The purpose of this guidance is to establish a process
that clarifies for applicants when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has
completed its evaluation and at what point the applicant should contact
the State concerning the status of the Section 401 Water Quality
Certification and/or Coastal Zone Management (CZM) consistency
concurrence. This process also allows for more accurate measurement of
the total length of time spent by the Corps in evaluating permit
applications (i.e., from receipt of a complete application until the
Corps reaches a permit decision). For verification of authorization of
activities under regional general permits, the Corps will use the
appropriate nationwide permit procedures at 33 CFR 330.6.
2. Background: a. A Department of the Army permit involving a
discharge of dredged or fill material cannot be issued until a State
Section 401 Water Quality Certification has been issued or waived.
Also, a Department of the Army permit cannot be issued for an activity
within a State with a federally-approved Coastal Management Program
when that activity that would occur within, or outside, a State's
coastal zone will affect land or water uses or natural resources of the
State's coastal zone, until the State concurs with the applicant's
consistency determination, or concurrence is presumed. In many cases,
the Corps completes its review before the State Section 401 Water
Quality Certification or CZM concurrence requirements have been
satisfied. In such cases, applicants and the public are often confused
regarding who to deal with regarding resolution of any State issues.
b. The ``provisional permit'' procedures described below will
facilitate a formal communication between the Corps and the applicant
to clearly indicate that the applicant should be in contact with the
appropriate State agencies to satisfy the State 401 Water Quality
Certification or CZM concurrence requirements. In addition, the
procedures will allow for a more accurate measurement of the Corps
permit evaluation time.
3. Provisional Permit Procedures: The provisional permit procedures
are optional and may only be used in those cases where: (i) The
District Engineer (DE) has made a provisional individual permit
decision that an individual permit should be issued, and, (ii) the only
action(s) preventing the issuance of that permit is that the State has
not issued a required Section 401 Water Quality Certification (or
waiver has not occurred) or the State has not concurred in the
applicant's CZM consistency determination (or there is not a presumed
concurrence). In such cases, the DE may, using these optional
procedures, send a provisional permit to the applicant.
a. First, the DE will prepare and sign the provisional permit
decision document. Then the provisional permit will be sent to the
applicant by transmittal letter. (The sample transmittal letter at
enclosure 1 contains the minimum information that must be provided.)
b. Next, the applicant would obtain the Section 401 Water Quality
Certification (or waiver) and/or CZM consistency concurrence (or
presumed concurrence). Then the applicant would sign the provisional
permit and return it to the DE along with the appropriate fee and the
Section 401 Water Quality Certification (or proof of waiver) and/or the
CZM consistency concurrence (or proof of presumed concurrence).
c. Finally, the Corps would attach any Section 401 Water Quality
Certification and/or CZM consistency concurrence to the provisional
permit, then sign the provisional permit (which then becomes the issued
final permit), and forward the permit to the applicant.
d. This is the same basic process as the normal standard permit
transmittal process except that the applicant is sent an unsigned
permit (i.e., a provisional permit) prior to obtaining the Section 401
Water Quality Certification (or waiver) and/or CZM consistency
concurrence (or presumed concurrence). (See enclosure 2.) A permit can
not be issued (i.e., signed by the Corps) until the Section 401 and CZM
requirements are satisfied.
4. Provisional Permit: A provisional permit is a standard permit
document with a cover sheet. The cover sheet must clearly indicate the
following: that a provisional permit is enclosed, that the applicant
must obtain the Section 401 Water Quality Certification or CZM
concurrence from the State, that these documents must be sent to the
Corps along with the provisional permit signed by the applicant, and
that the Corps will issue the permit upon receipt of these materials.
The issued permit is the provisional permit signed by the applicant and
the Corps. The provisional permit must contain a statement indicating
that the applicant is required to comply with the Section 401 Water
Quality Certification, including any conditions, and/or the CZM
consistency concurrence, including any conditions. At enclosure 3 is a
sample cover sheet for the provisional permit.
5. Provisional Permit Decision: The DE may reach a final decision
that a permit should be issued provided that the State issues a Section
401 Water Quality Certification and/or a CZM concurrence. In order to
reach such a decision the DE must complete the normal standard permit
evaluation process, prepared and sign a decision document, and prepare
a standard permit, including any conditions or mitigation (i.e., a
provisional permit). The decision document must include a statement
that the DE has determined that the permit will be issued if the State
issues a Section 401 Water Quality Certification or waiver and/or a CZM
concurrence, or presumed concurrence. The standard permit will not
contain a condition that requires or provides for the applicant to
obtain a Section 401 Water Quality Certification and/or CZM
[[Page 31496]]
concurrence. Once the decision document is signed, the applicant has
the right to a DA permit if the State issues a Section 401 Water
Quality Certification or waiver and/or a CZM concurrence, or if
concurrence is presumed. Once the decision document is signed, the
permittee's right to proceed can only be changed by using the
modification, suspension and revocation procedures of 33 CFR 325.7,
unless the State denies the Section 401 Water Quality Certification or
nonconcurs with the applicant's CZM consistency determination.
6. Enforcement: In some cases, applicants might proceed with the
project upon receipt of the provisional permit. The provisional permit
is not a valid permit. In such cases, the Corps has a discretionary
enforcement action to consider and should proceed as the DE determines
to be appropriate. This occurs on occasion during the standard permit
transmittal process. Since the Corps is not changing the normal process
of sending unsigned permits to the applicant for signature, there
should not be an increase in the occurrence of such unauthorized
activities.
7. Modification: a. In most cases the Section 401 Water Quality
Certification, including conditions, and/or CZM consistency
concurrence, including conditions, will be consistent with the
provisional permit. In such cases, the DE will simply sign the final
permit and enclose the 401 water quality certification and/or CZM
consistency concurrence with the final permit (i.e., the signed
provisional permit).
b. In a few cases such State approval may necessitate modifications
to the Corps preliminary permit decision. Such modifications will be
processed in accordance with 33 CFR 325.7.
(1) When the modifications are minor and the DE agrees to such
modifications, then a supplement to the provisional decision document
may be prepared, as appropriate, and the permit issued with such
modifications. (This should usually be done by enclosing the State 401
Water Quality Certification and/or CZM consistency concurrence to the
permit, but in a few cases may require a revision to the permit
document itself.)
(2) When the modification results in substantial change or
measurable increase in adverse impacts or the Corps does not initially
agree with the change, then the modification will be processed and
counted as a separate permit action for reporting purposes. This may
require a new public notice or additional coordination with appropriate
Federal and/or state agencies. The provisional decision document will
be supplemented or may be completely rewritten, as necessary.
8. Denial: If the State denies the Section 401 Water Quality
Certification and/or the State nonconcurs with the applicant's CZM
consistency determination, then the Corps permit is denied without
prejudice.
9. This guidance expires 31 December 1998 unless sooner revised or
rescinded.
For the Director of Civil Works.
John P. Elmore,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works.
3 Encls
Sample
Provisional Permit
Transmittal Letter
Dear: ____________:
We have completed our review of your permit application
identified as [File No., appl. name, etc.] for the following
proposed work:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
near/in/at ____________.
Enclosed is a ``PROVISIONAL PERMIT.'' The provisional permit is
NOT VALID and does not authorize you to do your work. The
provisional permit describes the work that will be authorized, and
the General and Special Conditions [if any] which will be placed on
your final Department of the Army (DA) permit, if the State of
____________________ Water Quality Certification and/or Coastal Zone
Management (CZM) consistency requirements are satisfied as described
below. No work is to be performed in the waterway or adjacent
wetlands until you have received a validated copy of the DA permit.
By Federal law no DA permit can be issued until a State Section
401 Water Quality Certification has been issued or has been waived
and/or the State has concurred with a permit applicant's CZM
consistency determination or concurrence has been presumed. As of
this date the [State 401 certification agency] has not issued a
Section 401 Water Quality Certification for your proposed work. If
the [State 401 certification agency] fails or refuses to act by
[date 401 certification must be issued] the Section 401 Water
Quality Certification requirement will be automatically waived.
Also, as of this date the [State CZM agency] has not concurred with
your CZM consistency determination. If the State does not act by
[six months from receipt by the State of the applicant's CZM
consistency determination] then concurrence with your CZM
consistency determination will automatically be presumed.
Conditions of the State Section 401 Water Quality Certification
and/or the State CZM concurrence will become conditions to the final
DA permit. Should the State's action on the required certification
or concurrence preclude validation of the provisional permit in its
current form, a modification to the provisional permit will be
evaluated and you will be notified as appropriate. Substantial
changes may require a new permit evaluation process, including
issuing a new public notice.
Enclosure 1
Final Permit Actions
Normal Permit Process
1. Corps completes permit decision, and state 401/CZM issued/waived
2. Corps sends unsigned permit to applicant
3. Applicant signs permit and returns with fee
4. Corps signs permit
Draft Permit Process
1. Corps completes permit decision, but state 401/CZM not complete
2. Corps sends draft permit to applicant
3. State 401/CZM issued waived
4. Applicant signs permit and returns with fee and 401/CZM action
5. Corps reviews 401/CZM action and signs permit
1. The signed draft permit with the attached 401/CZM action is
to be treated as the applicant's request for a permit subject to any
401/CZM certification/concurrence including any conditions.
2. If the 401/CZM action results in a modification to the draft
permit, then step 4. would be treated as a request for such
modification and if we agree with the modification, then the permit
would be issued with the modification and the decision document
supplemented, as appropriate. If the Corps does not initially agree
with the modification, or it involves a substantial change or
measurable increase in adverse impacts, then the modification would
be processed as a separate permit action for reporting purposes.
Enclosure 2
Once the State has issued the required Section 401 Water Quality
Certification and/or concurred with your CZM consistency
determination or the dates above have passed without the State
acting, and you agree to the terms and conditions of the provisional
permit, you should sign and date both copies and return them to us
[along with your $100.00/$10.00 permit fee]. Your DA permit will not
be valid until we have returned a copy to you bearing both your
signature and the signature of the appropriate Corps official.
If the State denies the required Section 401 Water Quality
Certification and/or nonconcurs with your CZM consistency
determination, then the DA permit is denied without prejudice. If
you should subsequently obtain a Section 401 Water Quality
Certification and/or a CZM consistency determination concurrence,
you should contact this office to determine how to proceed with your
permit application.
If you have any questions concerning your State Section 401
Water Quality Certification, please contact (State 401 certification
contact.
If you have any questions concerning your CZM consistency
determination, please contact (State CZM contact).
[[Page 31497]]
If you have any other questions concerning your application for
a DA permit, please contact [Corps contact] at [Corps contact
telephone number].
Provisional Permit
Not Valid
Do Not Begin Work
This Provisional Permit is Not Valid until:
(1) You obtain: ____________________ a Section 401 Water Quality
Certification (from State Agency).
____________________ a Coastal Zone Consistency determination
concurrence from (State Agency).
(2) You sign and return the enclosed provisional permit with the
State Section 401 Water Quality Certification and/or CZM concurrence
and the appropriate permit fee as indicated below:
____________________ $10.00
____________________ $100.00
No fee required
(3) The Corps signs the permit and returns it to you. Your
permit is denied without prejudice, if the State denies your Section
401 Water Quality Certification and/or nonconcurs with your Coastal
Zone Management consistency determination.
Do Not Begin Work
REGULATORY GUIDANCE LETTER (RGL 93-2)
RGL 93-2, Date: 23 August 1993, Expires: 31 December 1998
Subject: Guidance on Flexibility of the 404(b)(1) Guidelines and
Mitigation Banking.
1. Enclosed are two guidance documents signed by the Office of the
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) and the Environmental
Protection Agency. The first document provides guidance on the
flexibility that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should be utilizing
when making determinations of compliance with the Section 404(b)(1)
Guidelines, particularly with regard to the alternatives analysis. The
second document provides guidance on the use of mitigation banks as a
means of providing compensatory mitigation for Corps regulatory
decisions.
2. Both enclosed guidance documents should be implemented
immediately. These guidance documents constitute an important aspect of
the President's plan for protecting the Nation's wetlands, ``Protecting
America's Wetlands: A Fair, Flexible and Effective Approach''
(published on 24 August 1993).
3. This guidance expires 31 December 1998 unless sooner revised or
rescinded.
For the Director of Civil Works.
John P. Elmore,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works.
2 Encls
Memorandum to the field
Subject: Appropriate level of analysis required for evaluating
compliance with the section 404(b)(1) guidelines alternatives
requirements
1. Purpose: The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the
appropriate level of analysis required for evaluating compliance with
the Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines' (Guidelines)
requirements for consideration of alternatives. 40 CFR 230.10(a).
Specifically, this memorandum describes the flexibility afforded by the
Guidelines to make regulatory decisions based on the relative severity
of the environmental impact of proposed discharges of dredged or fill
material into waters of the United States.
2. Background: The Guidelines are the substantive environmental
standards by which all Section 404 permit applications are evaluated.
The Guidelines, which are binding regulations, were published by the
Environmental Protection Agency at 40 CFR Part 230 on December 24,
1980. The fundamental precept of the Guidelines is that discharges of
dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including
wetlands, should not occur unless it can be demonstrated that such
discharges, either individually or cumulatively, will not result in
unacceptable adverse effects on the aquatic ecosystem. The Guidelines
specifically require that ``no discharge of dredged or fill material
shall be permitted if there is a practicable alternative to the
proposed discharge which would have less adverse impact on the aquatic
ecosystem, so long as the alternative does not have other significant
adverse environmental consequences.'' 40 CFR 230.10(a). Based on this
provision, the applicant is required in every case (irrespective of
whether the discharge site is a special aquatic site or whether the
activity associated with the discharge is water dependent) to evaluate
opportunities for use of non-aquatic areas and other aquatic sites that
would result in less adverse impact on the aquatic ecosystem. A permit
cannot be issued, therefore, in circumstances where a less
environmentally damaging practicable alternative for the proposed
discharge exists (except as provided for under Section 404(b)(2)).
3. Discussion: The Guidelines are, as noted above, binding
regulations. It is important to recognize, however, that this
regulatory status does not limit the inherent flexibility provided in
the Guidelines for implementing these provisions. The preamble to the
Guidelines is very clear in this regard:
Of course, as the regulation itself makes clear, a certain
amount of flexibility is still intended. For example, while the
ultimate conditions of compliance are ``regulatory'', the Guidelines
allow some room for judgment in determining what must be done to
arrive at a conclusion that those conditions have or have not been
met.
Guidelines Preamble, ``Regulation versus Guidelines'', 45 Federal
Register 85336 (December 24, 1980).
Notwithstanding this flexibility, the record must contain
sufficient information to demonstrate that the proposed discharge
complies with the requirements of Section 230.10(a) of the Guidelines.
The amount of information needed to maker such a determination and the
level of scrutiny required by the Guidelines is commensurate with the
severity of the environmental impact (as determined by the functions of
the aquatic resource and the nature of the proposed activity) and the
scope/cost of the project.
a. Analysis Associated with Minor Impacts:
The Guidelines do not contemplate that the same intensity of
analysis will be required for all types of projects but instead
envision a correlation between the scope of the evaluation and the
potential extent of adverse impacts on the aquatic environment. The
introduction to Section 230.10(a) recognizes that the level of analysis
required may vary with the nature and complexity of each individual
case:
Although all requirements in Sec. 230.10 must be met, the
compliance evaluation procedures will vary to reflect the
seriousness of the potential for adverse impacts on the aquatic
ecosystems posed by specific dredged or fill material discharge
activities.
40 CFR 230.10
Similarly, Section 230.6 (``Adaptability'') makes clear that the
Guidelines:
allow evaluation and documentation for a variety of activities,
ranging from those with large, complex impacts on the aquatic
environment to those for which the impact is likely to be innocuous.
It is unlikely that the Guidelines will apply in their entirety to
any one activity, no matter how complex. It is anticipated that
substantial numbers of permit applications will be for minor,
routine activities that have little, if any, potential for
significant degradation of the aquatic environment. It generally is
not intended or
[[Page 31498]]
expected that extensive testing, evaluation or analysis will be
needed to make findings of compliance in such routine cases.
40 CFR 230.6(9) (emphasis added)
Section 230.6 also emphasizes that when making determinations of
compliance with the Guidelines, users:
must recognize the different levels of effort that should be
associated with varying degrees of impact and require or prepare
commensurate documentation. The level of documentation should
reflect the significance and complexity of the discharge activity.
40 CFR 230.6(b) (emphasis added)
Consequently, the Guidelines clearly afford flexibility to adjust
the stringency of the alternatives review for projects that would have
only minor impacts. Minor impacts are associated with activities that
generally would have little potential to degrade the aquatic
environment and include one, and frequently more, of the following
characteristics: are located in aquatic resources of limited natural
function; are small in size and cause little direct impact; have little
potential for secondary or cumulative impacts; or cause only temporary
impacts. It is important to recognize, however, that in some
circumstances even small or temporary fills result in substantial
impacts, and that in such cases a more detailed evaluation is
necessary. The Corps Districts and EPA Regions will, through the
standard permit evaluation process, coordinate with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and other
appropriate state and Federal agencies in evaluating the likelihood
that adverse impacts would result from a particular proposal. It is not
appropriate to consider compensatory mitigation in determining whether
a proposed discharge will cause only minor impacts for purposes of the
alternatives analysis required by Section 230.10(a).
In reviewing projects that have the potential for only minor
impacts on the aquatic environment, Corps and EPA field offices are
directed to consider, in coordination with state and Federal resource
agencies, the following factors:
(i) Such projects by their nature should not cause or contribute
to significant degradation individually or cumulatively. Therefore,
it generally should not be necessary to conduct or require detailed
analyses to determine compliance with Section 230.10(c).
(ii) Although sufficient information must be developed to
determine whether the proposed activity is in fact the least
damaging practicable alternative, the Guidelines do not require an
elaborate search for practicable alternatives if it is reasonably
anticipated that there are only minor differences between the
environmental impacts of the proposed activity and potentially
practicable alternatives. This decision will be made after
consideration of resource agency comments on the proposed project.
It often makes sense to examine first whether potential alternatives
would result in no identifiable or discernible difference in impact
on the aquatic ecosystem. Those alternatives that do not may be
eliminated from the analysis since Section 230.10(a) of the
Guidelines only prohibits discharges when a practicable alternative
exists which would have less adverse impact on the aquatic
ecosystem. Because evaluating practicability is generally the more
difficult aspect of the alternatives analysis, this approach should
save time and effort for both the applicant and the regulatory
agencies.\1\ By initially focusing the alternatives analysis on the
question of impacts on the aquatic ecosystem, it may be possible to
limit (or in some instances eliminate altogether) the number of
alternatives that have to be evaluated for practicability.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ In certain instances, however, it may be easier to examine
practicability first. Some projects may be so site-specific (e.g.,
erosion control, bridge replacement) that no offsite alternative
could be practicable. In such cases the alternatives analysis may
appropriately be limited to onsite options only.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(iii) When it is determined that there is no identifiable or
discernible difference in adverse impact on the environment between
the applicant's proposed alternative and all other practicable
alternatives, then the applicant's alternative is considered as
satisfying the requirements of Section 230.10(a).
(iv) Even where a practicable alternative exists that would have
less adverse impact on the aquatic ecosystem, the Guidelines allow
it to be rejected if it would have ``other significant adverse
environmental consequences.'' 40 CFR 230.10(a) As explained in the
preamble, this allows for consideration of ``evidence of damages to
other ecosystems in deciding whether there is a `better'
alternative.'' Hence, in applying the alternatives analysis required
by the Guidelines, it is not appropriate to select an alternative
where minor impacts on the aquatic environment are avoided at the
cost of substantial impacts to other natural environmental values.
(v) in cases of negligible or trivial impacts (e.g., small
discharges to construct individual driveways), it may be possible to
conclude that no alternative location could result in less adverse
impact on the aquatic environment within the meaning of the
Guidelines. In such cases, it may not be necessary to conduct an
offsite alternatives analysis but instead require only any
practicable onsite minimization.
This guidance concerns application of the Section 404(b)(1)
Guidelines to projects with minor impacts. Projects which may cause
more than minor impacts on the aquatic environment, either individually
or cumulatively, should be subjected to a proportionately more detailed
level of analysis to determine compliance or noncompliance with the
Guidelines. Projects which cause substantial impacts, in particular,
must be thoroughly evaluated through the standard permit evaluation
process to determine compliance with all provisions of the Guidelines.
b. Relationship between the Scope of Analysis and the Scope/Cost of
the Proposed Project:
The Guidelines provide the Corps and EPA with discretion for
determining the necessary level of analysis to support a conclusion as
to whether or not an alternative is practicable. Practicable
alternatives are those alternatives that are ``available and capable of
being done after taking into consideration cost, existing technology,
and logistics in light of overall project purposes.'' 40 CFR
230.10(a)(2). The preamble to the Guidelines provides clarification on
how cost is to be considered in the determination of practicability.
Our intent is to consider those alternatives which are
reasonable in terms of the overall scope/cost of the proposed
project. The term economic [for which the term ``cost'' was
substituted in the final rule] might be construed to include
consideration of the applicants financial standing, or investment,
or market share, a cumbersome inquiry which is not necessarily
material to the objectives of the Guidelines.
Guidelines Preamble, ``Alternatives'', 45 FR 85339 (December 24, 1980)
(emphasis added).
Therefore, the level of analysis required for determining which
alternatives are practicable will vary depending on the type of project
proposed. The determination of what constitutes an unreasonable expense
should generally consider whether the projected cost is substantially
greater than the costs normally associated with the particular type of
project. Generally, as the scope/cost of the project increases, the
level of analysis should also increase. To the extent the Corps obtains
information on the costs associated with the project, such information
may be considered when making a determination of what constitutes an
unreasonable expense.
The preamble to the Guidelines also states that ``[i]f an alleged
alternative is unreasonably expensive to the applicant, the alternative
is not `practicable.''' Guidelines Preamble, ``Economic Factors'', 45
FR 85343 (December 24, 1980). Therefore, to the extent that individual
homeowners and small businesses may typically be associated with small
projects with minor impacts, the nature of the applicant may also be a
relevant consideration in determining what constitutes a practicable
alternative. It is important to emphasize, however, that it
[[Page 31499]]
is not a particular applicant's financial standing that is the primary
consideration for determining practicability, but rather
characteristics of the project and what constitutes a reasonable
expense for these projects that are most relevant to practicability
determinations.
4. The burden of proof to demonstrate compliance with the
Guidelines rests with the applicant' where insufficient information is
provided to determine compliance, the Guidelines require that no permit
be issued. 400 CFR 230.12(a)(3)(iv).
5. A reasonable, common sense approach in applying the requirements
of the Guidelines' alternatives analysis is fully consistent with sound
environmental protection. The Guidelines clearly contemplate that
reasonable discretion should be applied based on the nature of the
aquatic resource and potential impacts of a proposed activity in
determining compliance with the alternatives test. Such an approach
encourages effective decisionmaking and fosters a better understanding
and enhanced confidence in the Section 404 program.
6. This guidance is consistent with the February 6, 1990
``Memorandum of Agreement Between the Environmental Protection Agency
and the Department of the Army Concerning the Determination of
Mitigation under the Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines.''
Signed August 23, 1993.
Robert H. Wayland, III,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Signed August 23, 1993.
Michael L. Davis,
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), Department
of the Army.
Memorandum to the Field
Subject: Establishment and Use of Wetland Mitigation Banks in the Clean
Water Act Section 404 Regulatory Program
1. This memorandum provides general guidelines for the
establishment and use of wetland mitigation banks in the Clean Water
Act Section 404 regulatory program. This memorandum serves as interim
guidance pending completion of Phase I of by the Corps of Engineers'
Institute for Water Resources study on wetland mitigation banking,\2\
at which time this guidance will be reviewed and any appropriate
revisions will be incorporated into final guidelines.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources, under
the authority of Section 307(d) of the Water Resources Development
Act of 1990, is undertaking a comprehensive two-year review and
evaluation of wetland mitigation banking to assist in the
development of a national policy on this issue. The interim summary
report documenting the results of the first phase of the study is
scheduled for completion in the fall of 1993.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. For purposes of this guidance, wetland mitigation banking refers
to the restoration, creation, enhancement, and, in exceptional
circumstances, preservation of wetlands or other aquatic habitats
expressly for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation in
advance of discharges into wetlands permitted under the Section 404
regulatory program. Wetland mitigation banks can have several
advantages over individual mitigation projects, some of which are
listed below:
(a) Compensatory mitigation can be implemented and functioning in
advance of project impacts, thereby reducing temporal losses of wetland
functions and uncertainty over whether the mitigation will be
successful in offsetting wetland losses.
(b) It may be more ecologically advantageous for maintaining the
integrity of the aquatic ecosystem to consolidate compensatory
mitigation for impacts to many smaller, isolated or fragmented habitats
into a single large parcel or contiguous parcels.
(c) Development of a wetland mitigation bank can bring together
financial resources and planning and scientific expertise not
practicable to many individual mitigation proposals. This consolidation
of resources can increase the potential for the establishment and long-
term management of successful mitigation.
(d) Wetland mitigation banking proposals may reduce regulatory
uncertainty and provide more cost-effective compensatory mitigation
opportunities.
3. The Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines (Guidelines), as clarified by
the ``Memorandum of Agreement Concerning the Determination of
Mitigation under the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines'' (Mitigation MOA)
signed February 6, 1990, by the Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of the Army, establish a mitigation sequence that is used in
the evaluation of individual permit applications. Under this sequence,
all appropriate and practicable steps must be undertaken by the
applicant to first avoid and then minimize adverse impacts to the
aquatic ecosystem. Remaining unavoidable impacts must then be offset
through compensatory mitigation to the extent appropriate and
practicable. Requirements for compensatory mitigation may be satisfied
through the use of wetland mitigation banks, so long as their use is
consistent with standard practices for evaluating compensatory
mitigation proposals outlined in the Mitigation MOA. It is important to
emphasize that, given the mitigation sequence requirements described
above, permit applicants should not anticipate that the establishment
of, or participation in, a wetland mitigation bank will ultimately lead
to a determination of compliance with the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines
without adequate demonstration that impacts associated with the
proposed discharge have been avoided and minimized to the extent
practicable.
4. The agencies' preference for on-site, in-kind compensatory
mitigation does not preclude the use of wetland mitigation banks where
it has been determined by the Corps, or other appropriate permitting
agency, in coordination with the Federal resource agencies through the
standard permit evaluation process, that the use of a particular
mitigation bank as compensation for proposed wetland impacts would be
appropriate for offsetting impacts to the aquatic ecosystem. In making
such a determination, careful consideration must be given to wetland
functions, landscape position, and affected species populations at both
the impact and mitigation bank sites. In addition, compensation for
wetland impacts should occur, where appropriate and practicable, within
the same watershed as the impact site. Where a mitigation bank is being
developed in conjunction with a wetland resource planning initiative
(e.g., Special Area Management Plan, State Wetland Conservation Plan)
to satisfy particular wetland restoration objectives, and permitting
agency will determine, in coordination with the Federal resource
agencies, whether use of the bank should be considered an appropriate
form of compensatory mitigation for impacts occurring within the same
watershed.
5. Wetland mitigation banks should generally be in place and
functional before credits may be used to offset permitted wetland
losses. However, it may be appropriate to allow incremental
distribution of credits corresponding to the appropriate stage of
successful establishment of wetland functions. Moreover, variable
mitigation ratios (credit acreage to impacted wetland acreage) may be
used in such circumstances to reflect the wetland functions attained at
a bank site at a particular point in time. For example,
[[Page 31500]]
higher ratios would be required when a bank is not yet fully functional
at the time credits are to be withdrawn.
6. Establishment of each mitigation bank should be accompanied by
the development of a formal written agreement (e.g., memorandum of
agreement) among the Corps, EPA, other relevant resource agencies, and
those parties who will own, develop, operate or otherwise participate
in the bank. The purpose of the agreement is to establish clear
guidelines for establishment and use of the mitigation bank. A wetlands
mitigation bank may also be established through issuance of a Section
404 permit where establishing the proposed bank involves a discharge of
dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. The banking
agreement or, where applicable, special conditions of the permit
establishing the bank should address the following considerations,
where appropriate:
(a) Location of the mitigation bank
(b) Goals and objectives for the mitigation bank project;
(c) Identification of bank sponsors and participants;
(d) Development and maintenance plan;
(e) Evaluation methodology acceptable to all signatories to
establish bank credits and assess bank success in meeting the
project goals and objectives;
(f) Specific accounting procedures for tracking crediting and
debiting;
(g) Geographic area of applicability;
(h) Monitoring requirements and responsibilities;
(i) Remedial action responsibilities including funding; and
(j) Provisions for protecting the mitigation bank in perpetuity.
Agency participation in a wetlands mitigation banking agreement may
not, in any way, restrict or limit the authorities and responsibilities
of the agencies.
7. An appropriate methodology, acceptable to all signatories,
should be identified and used to evaluate the success of wetland
restoration and creation efforts within the mitigation bank and to
identify the appropriate stage of development for issuing mitigation
credits. A full range of wetland functions should be assessed.
Functional evaluations of the mitigation bank should generally be
conducted by a multi-disciplinary team representing involved resource
and regulatory agencies and other appropriate parties. The same
methodology should be used to determine the functions and values of
both credits and debits. As an alternative, credits and debits can be
based on acres of various types of wetlands (e.g., National Wetland
Inventory classes). Final determinations regarding debits and credits
will be made by the Corps, or other appropriate permitting agency, in
consultation with Federal resource agencies.
8. Permit applicants may draw upon the available credits of a third
party mitigation bank (i.e., a bank developed and operated by an entity
other than the permit applicant). The Section 404 permit, however, must
state explicitly that the permittee remains responsible for ensuring
that the mitigation requirements are satisfied.
9. To ensure legal enforceability of the mitigation conditions, use
of mitigation bank credits must be conditioned in the Section 404
permit by referencing the banking agreement or Section 404 permit
establishing the bank; however, such a provision should not limit the
responsibility of the Section 404 permittee for satisfying all legal
requirements of the permit.
Signed August 23, 1993.
Robert H. Wayland, III,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Signed August 23, 1993.
Michael L. Davis,
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), Department
of the Army.
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 93-3)
RGL 93-3, Issued: September 13, 1993, Expires: not applicable
Subject: Rescission of Regulatory Guidance Letters (RGL) 90-5, 90-7,
and 90-8
1. On 25 August 1993 the final ``Excavation Rule'' was published in
the Federal Register (58 FR 45008) and becomes effective on 24
September 1993. This regulation modifies the definition of ``Discharge
of Dredged Material'' to address landclearing activities (see 33 CFR
323.2(d)); modifies the definitions of ``Fill Material'' and
``Discharge of Fill Material'' to address the placement of pilings (see
33 CFR 323.2 (e) and (f) and 323.3(c)); and modifies the definition of
``waters of the United States'' to address prior converted cropland
(see 33 CFR 328.(a)(8)).
2. Therefore, RGL 90-5, Subject: ``Landclearing Activities Subject
to Section 404 Jurisdiction''; RGL 90-7, Subject: ``Clarification of
the Phrase `Normal Circumstances' as it pertains to Cropped Wetlands'';
and RGL 90-8, Subject: ``Applicability of Section 404 to Pilings''; are
hereby rescinded effective 24 September 1993. Furthermore, although RGL
90-5, Subject: ``Landclearing Activities Subject to Section 404
Jurisdiction'' expired on 31 December 1992 it should continue to be
applied until 24 September 1993.
3. In addition, RGL's 90-5, 90-7, and 90-8 as of 24 September 1993
will no longer be used for guidance since the guidance contained in
those RGL's has been superseded by the regulation.
For the Director of Civil Works.
John P. Elmore,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works.
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 94-1)
Issued: 23 May 1994, Expires: 31 December 1999
Subject: Expiration of Geographic Jurisdictional Determinations.
1. Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL) 90-6, Subject: ``Expiration
Dates for Wetlands Jurisdictional Delineations'' is extended until 31
December 1999, subject to the following revisions.
2. This guidance should be applied to all jurisdictional
determinations for all waters of the United States made pursuant to
Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act, and Section 103 of the Marine Protection Research and
Sanctuaries Act of 1972.
3. To be consistent with paragraph IV.A. of the 6 January 1994,
interagency Memorandum of Agreement Concerning the Delineation of
Wetlands for Purposes of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and
Subtitle B of the Food Security Act, all U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
geographic jurisdictional determinations shall be in writing and
normally remain valid for a period of five years. The Corps letter (see
paragraph 4.(d) of RGL 90-6) should include a statement that the
jurisdictional determination is valid for a period of five years from
the date of the letter unless new information warrants revision of the
determination before the expiration date.
4. For wetland jurisdictional delineations the ``effective date of
this RGL'' referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 of RGL 90-6 was and
remains 14 August 1990. For jurisdictional determinations, other than
wetlands jurisdictional delineations, the ``effective date of this
RGL'' referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 of RGL 90-6 will be the date of
this RGL.
5. Previous Corps written jurisdictional determinations, including
wetland jurisdictional delineations, with a validity period of three
years remain valid for the stated period of three years. The district
engineer is not required to issue new letters to extend such period
from three years to a total of five years. However, if requested to do
so, the district engineer will normally extend the three year period to
a total of five years unless new
[[Page 31501]]
information warrants a new jurisdictional determination.
6. Districts are not required to issue a public notice on this
guidance but may do so at their discretion.
7. This guidance expires on 31 December 1999 unless sooner revised
or rescinded.
For the Director of Civil Works.
John P. Elmore,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division Directorate of
Civil Works.
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 94-2)
Issued: 17 AUGUST 1994, Expires: 31 DEC 1999
Subject: Superfund Projects
1. Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL) 85-07, subject: ``Superfund
Projects'' is hereby reissued (copy enclosed).
2. This RGL was previously extended by RGL 89-2. Although the
extension expired, RGL 85-07 has continued to be U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers policy.
3. This guidance expires 31 December 1999 unless sooner revised or
rescinded.
For the Director of Civil Works.
John P. Elmore,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works.
Encl
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 85-7)
Issued: 5 July 1985, Expires DEC 1987
Subject: Superfund Projects
1. Recently, the Chief Counsel, Mr. Lester Edelman, responded to a
letter from Mr. William N. Hedeman, Jr., Director, Office of Emergency
and Remedial Response, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which
dealt with the need for Department of Army authorizations for the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
(CERCLA) actions. This letter summarizes Mr. Edelman's opinion and
provides operating guidance for field interaction with the EPA.
2. The EPA's basic position is that Congress did not intend for
CERCLA response actions to be subject to other environmental laws.
Rather, as a matter of sound practice, CERCLA response actions
generally should meet the standards established by those laws.
Consequently, it is the EPA's position that neither it nor the states,
in pursuing response actions at the location of the release or
threatened release under the authority of CERCLA, are required to
obtain permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act or Section 10
of the Rivers and Harbors Act for those actions.
3. Mr. Edelman stated in part that he has some reservations about
the position that the EPA has taken. Nevertheless, he recognizes that
the EPA has the primary authority for the interpretation and
application of CERCLA, and therefore would defer to the EPA's reading
of its own statutory authorities, at least for the time being.
4. In light of this legal opinion, FOAs should not require
applications for the EPA or state response actions at the location of
the release or threatened release in pursued under the authority of
CERCLA. Any permit applications in process should be terminated.
5. Both the EPA and OCE believe that the FOAs expertise in
assessing the public interest factors for dredging and filling
operations can contribute to the overall quality of the CERCLA response
action. The Director of Civil Works will be establishing a group from
his staff to work with the EPA staff to develop a framework for
integrating the Corps Section 10, Section 404 and, if appropriate,
Section 103 concerns into the EPA's substantive Superfund reviews.
6. Until specific guidance is provided from OCE, FOAs should
provide technical support to the EPA regions and/or the states on
matters within their field of expertise.
For the Chief of Engineers.
C.E. Edgar III
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 95-1)
Issued: 31 March 1995, Expires: 31 December 2000
Subject: Guidance on Individual Permit Flexibility for Small Landowners
1. Enclosed is a memorandum for the field signed by the Acting
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) and the Environmental
Protection Agency dated 6 March 1995. This memorandum provides guidance
on flexibility that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should apply when
making determinations of compliance with the Section 404(b)(1)
Guidelines with regard to the alternatives analysis.
2. This memorandum should be implemented immediately. It
constitutes an important aspect of the President's Plan for protecting
the Nation's wetlands, ``Protecting America's Wetlands: A Fair,
Flexible, and Effective Approach'' (published on 24 August 1993).
3. This guidance expires on 31 December 2000 unless sooner revised
or rescinded.
For the Director of Civil Works.
Daniel R. Burns,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works.
Encl
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Washington, DC 20460
United States Department of the Army
Office of the Assistant Secretary
Washington, DC 20310-0103
Memorandum for the Field, March 6, 1995
Subject: Individual Permit Flexibility for Small Landowners
In order to clearly affirm the flexibility afforded to small
landowners under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, this policy
clarifies that for discharges of dredged or fill material affecting up
to two acres of non-tidal wetlands for the construction or expansion of
a home or farm building, or expansion of a small business, it is
presumed that alternatives located on property not currently owned by
the applicant are not practicable under the Section 404(b)(1)
Guidelines. Specifically, for those activities involving discharges of
dredged or fill material affecting up to two acres into jurisdictional
wetlands for:
(1) The construction or expansion of a single family home and
attendant features, such as a driveway, garage, storage shed, or septic
field;
(2) The construction or expansion of a barn or other farm building;
or
(3) The expansion of a small business facility; which are not
otherwise covered by a general permit, it is presumed that alternatives
located on property not currently owned by the applicant are not
practicable under the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines. The Guidelines'
requirements to appropriately and practicably minimize and compensate
for any adverse environmental impacts of such activities remain.
Discussion
The Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program provides that
the Army Corps of Engineers evaluate permit applications for the
discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S.,
including wetlands, in accordance with regulatory requirements of the
Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines (Guidelines). The Guidelines are
substantive environmental criteria used in evaluating discharges of
dredged or fill material.
The Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines establish a mitigation sequence
that provides a sound framework to ensure that the environmental
impacts of permitted actions are acceptable. Under this framework,
there is a three-step
[[Page 31502]]
sequence for mitigating potential adverse impacts to the aquatic
environment associated with a proposed discharge--first avoidance, then
minimization, and lastly compensation for unavoidable impacts to
aquatic resources.
The Guideline's mitigation sequence is designed to establish a
consistent approach to be used in ensuring that all practicable
measures have been taken to reduce potential adverse impacts associated
with proposed projects in wetlands and other aquatic systems. The
Guidelines define the term ``practicable'' as ``available and capable
of being done [by the applicant] after taking into consideration cost,
existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project
purposes'' (40 CFR 230.3(q)). The first step in the sequence requires
the evaluation of potential alternative sites under Sec. 230.10(a) of
the Guidelines, to locate the proposed project so that aquatic impacts
are avoided to the extent practicable.
This policy statement clarifies that, for the purposes of the
alternatives analysis, it is presumed that practicable alternatives are
limited to property owned by the permit applicant in circumstances
involving certain small projects affecting less than two acres of non-
tidal wetlands. This presumption is consistent with the practicability
considerations required under the Guidelines and reflects the nature of
the projects to which the presumption applies--specifically, the
construction or expansion of a single family home and attendant
features, the construction or expansion of a barn or other farm
building, or the expansion of a business. For such small projects that
would solely expand an existing structure, the basic project purpose is
so tied to the existing structures owned by the applicant, that it
would be highly unusual that the project could be practicably located
on other sites not owned by the applicant. In these cases, such as
construction of driveways, garages, or storage sheds, or with home and
barn additions, proximity to the existing structure is typically a
fundamental aspect of the project purpose.
In the evaluation of potential practicable alternatives, the
guidelines do not exclude the consideration of sites that, while not
currently owned by the permit applicant, could reasonably be obtained
to satisfy the project purpose. However, it is the experience of the
Army Corps of Engineers and EPA that areas not currently owned by the
applicant have, in the great majority of circumstances, not been
determined to be practicable alternatives in cases involving the small
landowner activities described above. Cost, availability, and
logistical and capability considerations inherent in the determination
of practicability under the guidelines have been the basis for this
conclusion by the agencies.
The agencies recognize that the presumption characterized in this
policy statement may be rebutted in certain circumstances. For example,
a more thorough review of practicable alternatives would be warranted
for individual sites comprising a subdivision of homes, if following
issuance of this policy statement, a real estate developer subdivided a
large, contiguous wetlands parcel into numerous parcels. In addition,
the presumption is applicable to the expansion of existing small
business facilities. Small businesses are typically confined to only
one location and with economic and logistical limitations that
generally preclude the availability of practicable alternative
locations to meet their expansion needs. Conversely, larger businesses
with multiple locations and greater resources are expected to consider
opportunities to practicably avoid adverse aquatic impacts by
evaluating off-site alternatives.
Finally,it is important to note that this presumption of
practicable alternatives is intended to apply to the individual permit
process. Alternatives are not evaluated for activities covered by
general permits. Many activities related to the construction or
expansion of a home, farm, or business, are already covered by a
general permit. In addition, in conjunction with the issuance of this
policy statement, a nationwide general permit authorizing discharges
related to single family residential development is being proposed and
will be available for public comment.
If you have any questions regarding this memorandum, please contact
Gregory Peck of EPA's Wetlands Division at (202) 260-8794 or Michael
Davis of the Corps of Engineer's Regulatory Branch at (202) 272-0199.
Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator for Water, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
John Zirschky,
Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 96-1)
Issued: 5 November 1996, EXPIRES: 31 December 2001
Subject: Use of Nationwide Permit Number 23 for U.S. Coast Guard
Categorical Exclusions
1. We have concurred with the categorical exclusions (CE)
(enclosure) submitted by the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard)
pursuant to the subject nationwide permit number 23 at 33 CFR Part 330,
including a notification requirement for CE numbers (6) and (8). The
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published the Coast Guard CEs in 61 FR
18573, April 26, 1996, for comment regarding the applicability of
nationwide permit number 23 for those activities requiring Department
of the Army authorization. This Regulatory Guidance Letter supersedes
the Coast Guard CEs previously approved under nationwide permit number
23 in accordance with Regulatory Guidance Letter 83-5, dated 18 April
1983.
2. The Corps has conditioned the nationwide permit to require
notification to the appropriate Corps office prior to beginning work
under Coast Guard CE number (6) to address potential impacts to
wetlands (notification is only required to the Corps for projects where
wetland impacts are proposed) and number (8) to address potential
impacts/encroachment on Federal navigation projects. The District
Engineer will review the notification and will either verify whether
the activity meets the terms and conditions of nationwide permit 23,
will require evaluation under standard permit procedures, or that
additional conditioning of the activity is necessary to ensure that no
unacceptable adverse effects will result to wetlands for projects under
CE number (6) or to a Federal navigation project under CE number (8).
Authorization of the Coast Guard CEs does not restrict the Division or
District Engineers' authorities to exercise discretionary authority, or
the Corps modification, suspension or revocation procedures.
Development of local procedures to streamline coordination is
encouraged where a Corps division or district further conditions the
nationwide permit to require a notification for additional activities.
3. It should be noted that the Coast Guard provided a complete
listing of CEs, including many that do not require Department of the
Army authorization. However, to reduce confusion when referencing the
CE number, we have included all Coast Guard CEs in the enclosure.
4. This guidance expires 31 December 2001 unless sooner revised or
rescinded.
[[Page 31503]]
For the Director of Civil Works.
Daniel R. Burns,
Chief, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works.
Enclosure
U.S. Coast Guard Categorical Exclusion List
The following is a consolidated list prepared from the U.S. Coast
Guard Federal Register notices (59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994, 60 FR
46317, September 6, 1995, 60 FR 32197, June 20, 1995, and 61 FR 13563,
March 27, 1996). The list does not include the procedures the U.S.
Coast Guard must follow to determine whether certain activities qualify
for a categorical exclusion. Notification to the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers is required prior to initiation of work for activities
conducted under numbers (6) (notification is only required to the Corps
for projects when wetland impacts are proposed) and number (8).
(1) Routine personnel, fiscal, and administrative activities,
actions, procedures, and policies which clearly do not have any
environmental impacts, such as military and civilian personnel
recruiting, processing, paying, and record keeping.
(2) Routine procurement activities and actions for goods and
services, including office supplies, equipment, mobile assets, and
utility services for routine administration, operations, and
maintenance.
(3) Maintenance dredging and debris disposal where no new depths
are required, applicable permits are secured, and disposal will be at
an existing approved disposal site.
(4) Routine repair, renovation, and maintenance actions on aircraft
and vessels.
(5) Routine repair and maintenance of buildings, roads, airfields,
grounds and equipment, and other facilities which do not result in a
change in functional use, or an impact on a historically significant
element or settings.
(6) Minor renovations and additions to buildings, roads, airfields,
grounds, equipment, and other facilities which do not result in a
chance in functional use, a historically significant element, or
historically significant setting. (When wetland impacts are proposed,
notification is required to the appropriate office of U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers prior to initiation of work)
(7) Routine repair and maintenance to waterfront facilities,
including mooring piles, fixed floating piers, existing piers, and
unburied power cables.
(8) Minor renovations and additions to waterfront facilities,
including mooring piles, fixed floating piers, existing piers, and
unburied power cables, which do not require special, site-specific
regulatory permits. (Notification is required to the appropriate office
of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to initiation of work)
(9) Routine grounds maintenance and activities at units and
facilities. Examples include localized pest management actions and
actions to maintain improved grounds (such as landscaping, lawn care
and minor erosion control measures) that are conducted in accordance
with applicable Federal, State and local directives.
(10) Installation of devices to protect human or animal life, such
as raptor electrocution prevention devices, fencing to restrict
wildlife movement on to airfields, and fencing and grating to prevent
accidental entry to hazardous areas.
(11) New construction on heavily developed portions of Coast Guard
property, when construction, use, and operation will comply with
regulatory requirements and constraints.
(12) Decisions to decommission equipment or temporarily discontinue
use of facilities or equipment. This does not preclude the need to
review decommissioning under section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act.
(13) Demolition or disposal actions that involve buildings or
structures when conducted in accordance with regulations applying to
removal of asbestos, PCB's, and other hazardous materials, or disposal
actions mandated by Congress. In addition, if the building or structure
is listed, or eligible for listing, in the National Register of
Historic Places, then compliance with section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act is required.
(14) Outleasing of historic lighthouse properties as outlined in
the Programmatic Memorandum of Agreement between the Coast Guard,
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the National Conference
of State Historic Preservation Officers.
(15) Transfer of real property from the Coast Guard to the General
Services Administration, Department of the Interior, and other Federal
departments and agencies, or as mandated by Congress; and the granting
of leases, permits, and easements where there is no substantial change
in use of the property.
(16) Renewals and minor amendments of existing real estate licenses
or grants for use of government-owned real property where prior
environmental review has determined that no significant environmental
effects would occur.
(17) New grants or renewal of existing grants of license,
easements, or similar arrangements for the use of existing rights-of-
way or incidental easements complementing the use of existing rights-
of-way for use by vehicles; for such existing rights-of-way as
electrical, telephone, and other transmission and communications lines;
water, wastewater, stormwater, and irrigation pipelines, pumping
stations, and irrigation facilities; and for similar utility and
transportation uses.
(18) Defense preparedness training and exercises conducted on other
than Coast Guard property, where the legal agency or department is not
Coast Guard or Department of Transportation and the lead agency or
department has completed its NEPA analysis and documentation
requirements.
(19) Defense preparedness training and exercise conducted on Coast
Guard property that do not involve undeveloped property or increase
noise levels over adjacent property and that involve a limited number
of personnel, such as exercises involving primarily electric simulation
or command post personnel.
(20) Simulated exercises, including tactical and logistical
exercises that involve small numbers of personnel.
(21) Training of an administrative or classroom nature.
(22) Operations to carry out maritime safety, maritime law
enforcement, search and rescue, domestic ice breaking, and oil or
hazardous substance removal programs.
(23) Actions performed as a part of Coast Guard operations and the
Aids to Navigation Program to carry out statutory authority in the area
of establishment of floating and minor fixed aids to navigation, except
electronic sound signals.
(24) Routine movement of personnel and equipment, and the routine
movement, handling, and distribution of nonhazardous materials and
wastes in accordance with applicable regulations.
(25) Coast Guard participation in disaster relief efforts under the
guidance or leadership of another Federal agency that has taken
responsibility for NEPA compliance.
(26) Data gathering, information gathering, and studies that
involve no physical change to the environment. Examples include
topographic surveys, bird counts, wetland mapping, and other
inventories.
(27) Natural and cultural resource management and research
activities that are in accordance with interagency agreements and which
are designed to
[[Page 31504]]
improve or upgrade the Coast Guard's ability to manage those resources.
(28) Contracts for activities conducted at established laboratories
and facilities, to include contractor-operated laboratories and
facilities, on Coast Guard-owned property where all airborne emissions,
waterborne effluents, external radiation levels, outdoor noise, and
solid and bulk waste disposal practices are in compliance with existing
applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations.
(29) Approval of recreational activities (such as a Coast Guard
unit picnic) which do not involve significant physical alteration of
the environment, increase disturbance by humans of sensitive natural
habitats, or disturbance of historic properties, and which do not occur
in, or adjacent to, areas inhabited by threatened or endangered
species.
(30) Review of documents, such as studies, reports, and analyses,
prepared for legislative proposals that did not originate in DOT and
that relate to matters that are not the primary responsibility of the
Coast Guard.
(31) Planning and technical studies which do not contain
recommendations for authorization or funding for future construction,
but may recommend further study. This includes engineering efforts or
environmental studies undertaken to define the elements of a proposal
or alternatives sufficiently so that the environmental effects may be
assessed and does not exclude consideration of environmental matters in
the studies.
(32) Bridge Administration Program actions which can be described
as one of the following:
(a) Modification or replacement of an existing bridge on
essentially the same alignment or location. Excluded are bridges with
historic significance or bridges providing access to undeveloped
barrier islands and beaches. (Approach fills regulated by the U.S. Army
Corps or Engineers under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act will
require a separate individual or general permit.)
(b) Construction of pipeline bridges for transporting potable
water.
(c) Construction of pedestrian, bicycle, or equestrian bridges and
stream gauging cableways used to transport people.
(d) Temporary replacement of a bridge immediately after a natural
disaster or a catastrophic failure for reasons of public safety,
health, or welfare.
(e) Promulgation of operating regulations or procedures for
drawbridges.
(f) Identification of advance approval waterways under 33 CFR
115.70,
(g) Any Bridge Program action which is classified as a CE by
another Department of Transportation agency acting as lead agency for
such action.
(33) Preparation of guidance documents that implement, without
substantive change, the applicable Commandant Instruction or other
Federal agency regulations, procedures, manuals, and other guidance
documents.
(34) Promulgation of the following regulations:
(a) Regulations which are editorial or procedural, such as those
updating addresses or establishing application procedures.
(b) Regulations concerning internal agency functions or
organization or personnel administration, such as funding, establishing
Captain of the Port boundaries, or delegating authority.
(c) Regulations concerning the training, qualifying, licensing, and
disciplining of maritime personnel.
(d) Regulations concerning manning, documentation, admeasurement,
inspection, and equipping of vessels.
(e) Regulations concerning equipment approval and carriage
requirements.
(f) Regulations establishing, disestablishing, or changing the size
of Special Anchorage Areas or anchorage grounds.
(g) Regulations establishing, disestablishing, or changing
Regulated Navigation Areas and security or safety zones.
(h) Special local regulations issued in conjunction with a regatta
or marine parade; provided that, if a permit is required, the
environmental analysis conducted for the permit included an analysis of
the impact of the regulations.
(i) Regulations in aid of navigation, such as those concerning
rules of the road, International Regulations for the Prevention of
Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), bridge-to-bridge communication, vessel
traffic services, and marking, of navigation systems.
(35) Approvals of regatta and marine parade event permits for the
following events:
(a) Events that are not located in, proximate to, or above an area
designated as environmentally sensitive by an environmental agency of
the Federal, State, or local Government. For example, environmentally
sensitive areas may include such areas as critical habitats or
migration routes for endangered or threatened species or important fish
or shellfish nursery areas.
(b) Events that are located in, proximate to, or above an area
designated as environmentally sensitive by an environmental agency of
the Federal, State, or local Government and for which the Coast Guard
determines, based on consultation with the Government agency, that the
event will not significantly affect the environmentally sensitive area.
Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL 96-2)
Issued 12 December 1997, Expires 31 December 2001
Subject: Applicability of Exemptions under Section 404(f) to ``Deep-
Ripping'' Activities in Wetlands
1. Enclosed is a memorandum to the field jointly signed by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The
memorandum provides guidance clarifying when ``deep-ripping''
activities within wetlands require Department of Army authorization.
2. This guidance expires 31 December 2001, unless sooner revised or
rescinded.
For the Director of Civil Works.
Daniel R. Burns,
Chief, Operations, Construction, and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works.
Enclosure
Department of the Army
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Memorandum to the Field, 12 Dec 1996
Subject: Applicability of Exemptions under Section 404(f) to ``Deep-
Ripping'' Activities in Wetlands
Purpose: The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify the applicability
of exemptions provided under Section 404(f) of the Clean Water Act
(CWA) to discharges associated with ``deep-ripping'' and related
activities in wetlands.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ As this guidance addresses primary agricultural-related
activities, characterizations of such practices have been developed
in consultation with experts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Background
1. Section 404(f)(1) of the CWA exempts from the permit requirement
certain discharges associated with normal farming, forestry, and
ranching practices in waters of the United States, including wetlands.
Discharges into waters subject to the Act associated with farming,
forestry, and ranching practices identified under Section 404(f)(1) do
not require a permit except as provided under Section 404(f)(2).
2. Section 404(f)(1) does not provide a total, automatic exemption
for all activities related to agricultural, silvicultural, or ranching
practices.
[[Page 31505]]
Rather, Section 404(f)(1) exempts only those activities specifically
identified in paragraphs (A) through (F), and ``other activities of
essentially the same character as named'' [44 FR 34264]. For example,
Section 404(f)(1)(A) lists discharges of dredged or fill material from
``normal farming, silvicultural and ranching activities, such as
plowing, seeding, cultivating, minor drainage, harvesting for the
production of food, fiber, and forest products, or upland soil and
water conservation practices.''
3. Section 404(f)(1)(A) is limited to activities that are part of
an ``established (i.e., ongoing) farming, silviculture, or ranching
operation.'' This ``established'' requirement is intended to reconcile
the dual intent reflected in the legislative history that although
Section 404 should not unnecessarily restrict farming, forestry, or
ranching from continuing at a particular site, discharge activities
which could destroy wetlands or other waters should be subject to
regulation.
4. EPA and Corps regulations [40 CFR 230 and 33 CFR 320] and
preamble define in some detail the specific ``normal'' activities
listed in Section 404(f)(1)(A). Three points may be useful in the
current context:
a. As explained in the preamble to the 1979 proposed
regulations, the words ``such as'' have been consistently
interpreted as restricting the section ``to the activities named in
the statute and other activities of essentially the same character
as named, ``and'' `preclude the extension of the exemption * * * to
activities that are unlike those named.'' [44 FR 34264].
b. Plowing is specifically defined in the regulations not to
include the redistribution of surface material in a manner which
converts wetlands areas to uplands [See 40 CFR
233.35(a)(1)((iii)(D)].
c. Discharges associated with activities that establish an
agricultural operation in wetlands where previously ranching had
been conducted, represents a ``change in use'' within the meaning of
Section 404(f)(2). Similarly, discharges that establish forestry
practices in wetlands historically subject to agriculture also
represent a change in use of the site [See 40 CFR 233.35(c)].
5. The statute includes a provision at Section 404(f)(2) that
``recaptures'' or reestablishes the permit requirement for those
otherwise exempt discharges which:
a. Convert an area of the waters of the U.S. to a new use, and
b. Impair the flow or circulation of waters of the U.S. or reduce the
reach of waters of the U.S.
Conversion of an area of waters of the U.S. to uplands triggers both
provisions (a) and (b) above. Thus, at a minimum, any otherwise exempt
discharge that results in the conversion of waters of the U.S. to
upland is recaptured under Section 404(f)(2) and requires a permit. It
should be noted that in order to trigger the recapture provisions of
Section 404(f)(2), the discharges themselves need not be the sole cause
of the destruction of the wetland or other change in use or sole cause
of the reduction or impairment of reach, flow, or circulation of waters
of the U.S. Rather, the discharges need only be ``incidental to'' or
``part of'' an activity which is intended to or will foreseeably bring
about that result. Thus, in applying Section 404(f)(2), one must
consider discharges in context, rather than isolation.
Issue:
1. Questions have been raised involving ``deep-ripping'' and
related activities in wetlands and whether discharges associated with
these actions fall within the exemptions at Section 404(f)(1)(A). In
addition, the issue has been raised whether, if such activities fall
within the exemption, they would be recaptured under Section 404(f)(2).
2. ``Deep-ripping'' is defined as the mechanical manipulation of
the soil to break up or pierce highly compacted, impermeable or slowly
permeable subsurface soil layers, or other similar kinds of restrictive
soil layers. These practices are typically used to break up these
subsoil layers (e.g., impermeable soil layer, hardpan) as part of the
initial preparation of the soil to establish an agricultural or
silvicultural operation. Deep-ripping and related activities are also
used in established farming operations to break up highly compacted
soil. Although deep-ripping and related activities may be required more
than once, the activity is typically not an annual practice. Deep-
ripping and related activities are undertaken to improve site drainage
and facilitate deep root growth, and often occur to depths greater than
16 inches and, in some cases, exceeding 4 feet below the surface. As
such, it requires the use of heavy equipment, including bulldozers,
equipped with ripper-blades, shanks, or chisels often several feet in
length. Deep-ripping and related activities involve extending the
blades to appropriate depths and dragging them through the soil to
break up the restrictive layer.
3. Conversely, plowing is defined in EPA and Corps regulations [40
CFR part 230 and 33 CFR part 320] as ``all forms of primary tillage * *
* used * * * for the breaking up, cutting, turning over, or stirring of
soil to prepare it for the planting of crops'' [40 CFR 232.3(d)(4)]. As
a general matter, normal plowing activities involve the annual or at
least regular, preparation of soil prior to seeding or other planting
activities. According to USDA, plowing generally involves the use of a
blade, chisel or series of blades, chisels, or discs, usually 8-10
inches in length, pulled behind farm vehicle to prepare the soil for
the planting of annual crops or to support an ongoing farming practice.
Plowing is commonly used to break up the surface of the soil to
maintain soil tilth and to facilitate infiltration throughout the upper
root zone.
Discussion
1. Plowing in wetlands is exempt from regulation consistent with
the following circumstances:
a. it is conducted as part of an ongoing, established agricultural,
silvicultural or ranching operation; and
b. the activity is consistent with the definition of plowing in EPA and
Corps regulations [40 CFR 230 and 33 CFR 320]; and
c. the plowing is not incidental to an activity that results in the
immediate or gradual conversion of wetlands to non-waters.
2. Deep-ripping and related activities are distinguishable from
plowing and similar practices (e.g., discing harrowing) with regard to
the purposes and circumstances under which it is conducted, the nature
of the equipment that is used, and its effect, including in particular
the impacts to the hydrology of the site.
a. Deep-ripping and related activities are commonly conducted to
depths exceeding 16 inches, and as deep as 6-8 feet below the soil
surface to break restrictive soil layers and improve water drainage at
sites that have not supported deeper rooting crops. Plowing depths,
according to USDA, rarely exceed one foot into the soil and not deeper
than 16 inches without the use of special equipment involving special
circumstances. As such, deep-ripping and related activities typically
involve the use of specialized equipment, including heavy mechanized
equipment and bulldozers, equipped with elongated ripping blades
shanks, or chisels often several feet in length. Moreover, while
plowing is generally associated with ongoing operations, deep-ripping
and related activities are typically conducted to prepare a site for
establishing crops not previously planted at the site. Although deep-
ripping may have to be redone at regular intervals in some
circumstances to maintain proper soil drainage, the activity is
typically not an annual or routine practice.
[[Page 31506]]
b. Frequently, deep-ripping and related activities are conducted as
a preliminary step for converting a ``natural'' system or for preparing
rangeland for a new use such as farming or silviculture. In those
instances, deep ripping and related activities are often required to
break up naturally-occurring impermeable or slowly permeable subsurface
soil layers to facilitate proper root growth. For example, for certain
depressions wetlands types such as vernal pools, the silica-cemented
hardpan (durapan) or other restrictive layer traps precipitation and
seasonal runoff creating ponding and saturation conditions at the soil
surface. The presence of these impermeable or slowly permeable subsoil
layers is essential to support the hydrology of the system. Once these
layers are disturbed by activities such as deep-ripping, the hydrology
of the system is disturbed and the wetland is often destroyed.
c. In contrast, there are other circumstances where activities such
as deep-ripping and related activities are a standard practice of an
established on-going farming operation. For example, in parts of the
Southeast, where there are deep soils having a high clay content,
mechanized farming practices can lead to the compaction of the soil
below the oil surface, it may be necessary to break up, on a regular
although not annual basis, these restrictive layers in order to allow
for normal root development and infiltration. Such activities may
require special equipment and can sometimes occur to depths greater
than 16 inches. However, because of particular physical conditions,
including the presence of a water table at or near the surface for part
of the growing season, the activity typically does not have the effect
of impairing the hydrology of the system or otherwise altering the
wetland characteristics of the site.
Conclusion
1. When deep-ripping and related activities are undertaken as part
of an established, ongoing agricultural silvicultural or ranching
operation, to break up compacted soil layers and where the hydrology of
the site will not be altered such that it would result in conversion of
waters of the U.S. to upland, such activities are exempt under Section
404(f)(1)(A).
2. Deep-ripping and related activities in wetlands are not exempt,
when such practices are conducted in association with efforts to
establish for the first time (or when a previously established
operation was abandoned) an agricultural, silvicultural or ranching
operation. In addition, deep-ripping and related activities are not
exempt in circumstances where such practices would trigger the
``recapture'' provision of Section 404(f)(2):
(a) Deep-ripping to establish a farming operation at a site
where a ranching or forestry operation was in place is a change in
use of such a site. Deep-ripping and related activities that also
have the effect of altering or removing the wetland hydrology of the
site would trigger Section 404(f)(2) and such ripping would require
a permit.
(b) Deep-ripping a site that has the effect of converting
wetlands to non-waters would also trigger Section 404(f)(2) and such
ripping would require a permit.
3. It is the agencies' experience that certain wetland types are
particularly vulnerable to hydrological alteration as a result of deep-
ripping and related activities. Depressional wetland systems such as
prairie potholes, vernal pools and playas whose hydrology is critically
dependent upon the presence of an impermeable or slowly permeable
subsoil layer are particularly sensitive to disturbance or alteration
of this subsoil layer. Based upon this experience, the agencies have
concluded that, as a general matter, deep-ripping and similar
practices, consistent with the descriptions above, conducted in prairie
potholes, vernal pools, playas and similar depressions wetlands destroy
the hydrological integrity of these wetlands. In these circumstances,
deep-ripping in prairie potholes, vernal pools, and playas is
recaptured under Section 404(f)(2) and requires a permit under the
Clean Water Act.
Robert H. Wayland III,
Director, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, Environmental
Protection Agency.
Daniel R. Burns,
Cheif, Operations, Construction and Readiness Division, Directorate of
Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 97-15001 Filed 6-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-M
