On November 16 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published in the Federal Register its request for comments regarding our proposal under Executive Order 13563, “Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,” issued on January 18, 2011.  It is located at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-16/html/2011-29633.htm

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) issued a public notice in the Federal Register, dated January 6, 2011, announcing the availability of the draft National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) and its web address to solicit public comments.  The public will now be provided the opportunity to comment and vote on the wetland indicator status ratings of the plants, species nomenclature changes and the revisions to the definition of indicator status ratings contained in the NWPL.  Whenever possible, commenters should submit comments on-line at: http://wetland_plants.usace.army.mil/.

The USACE issued a public notice in the Federal Register, dated June 18, 2010, suspending the use of Nationwide Permit Number 21 Surface Coal Mining (NWP 21) in the Appalachian Region of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.  The suspension of NWP 21 is effective immediately.  The application of NWP 21 to surface coal mining activities in the rest of the United States will not be affected by the proposed suspension of this NWP.

The Albuquerque District issued a public notice, dated September 2, 2009, describing procedures for processing JDs based on RGL 08-02.  The Albuquerque District will conduct preliminary JDs in every case when a preliminary JD may be conducted per RGL 08-02 unless an approved JD is specifically requested in writing.

The USACE issued Interim Regional Supplements to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual for the Great Plains and Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Regions.  The USACE issued the Final Alaska Regional Supplement in October 2007 and the Final Arid West Regional Supplement in October 2008.  The USACE is currently developing 6 other regional supplements to the 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual for the following regions:  Midwest; Atlantic & Gulf Coastal Plain; Northcentral & Northeast; Caribbean Islands; Mid-Atlantic & Southeast; and Hawaii/Pacific Islands.  The Arid West; Great Plains; and Western Mountains, Valleys & Coast regions are located within the Albuquerque District.  Use of interim supplements are required when delineating wetlands within their geographic regions.

The USACE Albuquerque District is proposing to issue Emergency Regional General Permit SPA-2008-00110-DUR.  If issued, the permit would grant authority under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 to discharge dredged and fill material into waters of the United States and conduct work in, or affecting, navigable waters of the United States associated with the activities described in the proposed RGP in the Albuquerque District.