On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published in the Federal Register its proposal to reissue 56 existing nationwide permits (NWPs) and issue one new NWP. One NWP is not proposed for reissuance.
NWPs are general permits issued on a nationwide basis to streamline the authorization of activities that result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. Many of the proposed NWPs require notification to the district engineer before commencing those activities, to ensure that the activities authorized by those NWPs cause no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects.
National Issues Concerning the Proposed NWPs:
The Federal Register notice is the public’s opportunity to comment on the proposed NWPs, general conditions, and definitions. Comments on national issues relating to these NWPs should be submitted to docket number COE-2025-0002 at www.regulations.gov, or by email to 2026nationwidepermits@usace.army.mil or by mail to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Attn: CECW-CO-R, 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20314-1000. Instructions for submitting comments are provided in the June 18, 2025, Federal Register notice. Comments on the proposed NWPs are due by July 18, 2025.
Regional Issues Concerning the Proposed NWPs, Including Regional Conditioning:
Division engineers are authorized to add regional conditions specific to the needs and/or requirements of a particular region or state. Regional conditions are an important mechanism to help ensure that the adverse environmental effects of activities authorized by the NWPs are no more than minimal, both individually and cumulatively. Division engineers may also suspend or revoke specific NWPs in certain geographic areas (e.g., states or watersheds) or high-value aquatic systems where the adverse environmental effects caused by activities authorized by those NWPs may be more than minimal. An enclosure for this public notice (Enclosure 2) lists the proposed regional conditions currently under consideration by the South Pacific Division for Albuquerque District, New Mexico State Boundaries The Albuquerque District, is seeking comments on the proposed regional conditions and seeking comments on the need for additional regional conditions to help ensure that the adverse environmental effects of activities authorized by the proposed NWPs are no more than minimal, individually and cumulatively. Unless otherwise noted, all proposed regional conditions listed on this enclosure are applicable for activities in Albuquerque District, Navajo Nation boundaries, Comments on regional issues relating to the proposed NWPs and proposed regional conditions should be sent to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Albuquerque district, 4101 Jefferson Plaza, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, or emailed to: SPA-RD-NM@USACE.ARMY.MIL. Comments relating to regional conditions are due by August 2, 2025. Similar public notices proposing regional conditions in other regions or states are being published concurrently by other division or district offices. After the final NWPs are issued, the final regional conditions will be issued after they are approved by the Division Commander.
401 Water Quality Certification:
States, tribes, and other certifying authorities will make their Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification (WQC) decisions after reviewing the proposed NWPs.
Draft Decision Documents:
Draft decision documents for each of the proposed NWPs, which include environmental documentation prepared for the purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act, have been written by Corps Headquarters. The decision documents will address compliance of the NWPs with the requirements for issuance under the Corps’ general permit authority. These draft decision documents, as well as the proposed NWPs, are available for viewing at www.regulations.gov, docket number COE-2025-0002. Final decision documents will be prepared for the NWPs that are issued.
Enclosed is an index of the proposed NWPs and conditions. Anyone wishing to provide comments may obtain a full text copy of the NWPs through the Corps Home Page at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/Nationwide-Permits/, at www.regulations.gov in docket number COE-2025-0002, or at the following Federal Register address: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/06/18/2025-11190/proposal-to-reissue-and-modify-nationwide-permits
Enclosure 1 - Index of Proposed Nationwide Permits, General Conditions, and Definitions
Nationwide Permits
1. Aids to Navigation
2. Structures in Artificial Canals
3. Maintenance
4. Fish and Wildlife Harvesting, Enhancement, and Attraction Devices and Activities
5. Scientific Measurement Devices
6. Survey Activities
7. Outfall Structures and Associated Intake Structures
8. Oil and Gas Structures on the Outer Continental Shelf
9. Structures in Fleeting and Anchorage Areas
10. Mooring Buoys
11. Temporary Recreational Structures
12. Oil or Natural Gas Pipeline Activities
13. Bank Stabilization
14. Linear Transportation Projects
15. U.S. Coast Guard Approved Bridges
16. Return Water From Upland Contained Disposal Areas
17. Hydropower Projects
18. Minor Discharges
19. Minor Dredging
20. Response Operations for Oil or Hazardous Substances
21. Surface Coal Mining Activities
22. Removal of Vessels
23. Approved Categorical Exclusions
24. Indian Tribe or State Administered Section 404 Programs
25. Structural Discharges
26. [Reserved]
27. Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Establishment, and Enhancement Activities
28. Modifications of Existing Marinas
29. Residential Developments
30. Moist Soil Management for Wildlife
31. Maintenance of Existing Flood Control Facilities
32. Completed Enforcement Actions
33. Temporary Construction, Access, and Dewatering
34. Cranberry Production Activities
35. Maintenance Dredging of Existing Basins
36. Boat Ramps
37. Emergency Watershed Protection and Rehabilitation
38. Cleanup of Hazardous and Toxic Waste
39. Commercial and Institutional Developments
40. Agricultural Activities
41. Reshaping Existing Drainage Ditches
42. Recreational Facilities
43. Stormwater Management Facilities
44. Mining Activities
45. Repair of Uplands Damaged by Discrete Events
46. Discharges in Ditches
47. [Reserved]
48. Commercial Shellfish Mariculture Activities
49. Coal Remining Activities
50. Underground Coal Mining Activities
51. Land-Based Renewable Energy Generation Facilities
52. Water-Based Renewable Energy Generation Pilot Projects
53. Removal of Low-Head Dams
54. Living Shorelines
55. Seaweed Mariculture Activities
56. [Reserved]
57. Electric Utility Line and Telecommunications Activities
58. Utility Line Activities for Water and Other Substances
59. Water Reclamation and Reuse Facilities
A. Activities to Improve Passage of Fish and Other Aquatic Organisms
Nationwide Permit General Conditions
1. Navigation
2. Aquatic Life Movements
3. Spawning Areas
4. Migratory Bird Breeding Areas
5. Shellfish Beds
6. Suitable Material
7. Water Supply Intakes
8. Adverse Effects from Impoundments
9. Management of Water Flows
10. Fills Within 100-Year Floodplains
11. Equipment
12. Soil Erosion and Sediment Controls
13. Removal of Temporary Fills
14. Proper Maintenance
15. Single and Complete Project
16. Wild and Scenic Rivers
17. Tribal Rights
18. Endangered Species
19. Migratory Birds and Bald and Golden Eagles
20. Historic Properties
21. Discovery of Previously Unknown Remains and Artifacts
22. Designated Critical Resource Waters
23. Mitigation
24. Safety of Impoundment Structures
25. Water Quality
26. Coastal Zone Management
27. Regional and Case-by-Case Conditions
28. Use of Multiple Nationwide Permits
29. Transfer of Nationwide Permit Verifications
30. Compliance Certification
31. Activities Affecting Structures or Works Built by the United States
32. Pre-Construction Notification
District Engineer’s Decision
Further Information
Nationwide Permit Definitions
Best management practices (BMPs)
Compensatory mitigation
Currently serviceable
Direct effects
Discharge
Ecological reference
Enhancement
Establishment (creation)
High Tide Line
Historic property
Independent utility
Indirect effects
Loss of waters of the United States
Nature-based solutions
Navigable waters
Non-tidal wetland
Open water
Ordinary high-water mark
Perennial stream
Practicable
Pre-construction notification
Preservation
Re-establishment
Rehabilitation
Restoration
Riffle and pool complex
Riparian areas
Shellfish seeding
Single and complete linear project
Single and complete non-linear project
Stormwater management
Stormwater management facilities
Stream bed
Stream channelization
Structure
Tidal wetland
Tribal lands
Tribal rights
Vegetated shallows
Waterbody
Enclosure 2 - Navajo Nation Regional Conditions
2026 Final Regional Conditions to Nationwide Permits in the Navajo Nation
1. Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) for Dredge and Fill Activities in Lakes, Intermittent and Perennial Streams, and Special Aquatic Sites: Notification to the District Engineer in accordance with General Condition 32 is required for all proposed activities in lakes, intermittent and perennial streams, and special aquatic sites (including wetlands, riffle and pool complexes, and sanctuaries and refuges)
a. The permittee shall notify the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in accordance with General Condition 32 using either the South Pacific Division Preconstruction Notification (PCN) or application form (ENG Form 4345) with an attachment providing information on compliance with all General and Regional Conditions. In addition, the application shall include:
- A written statement describing how the activity has been designed to avoid and minimize adverse effects, both temporary and permanent, to waters of the United States (U.S.); and
- Drawings, including plan and cross-section views, clearly depicting the location, size and dimensions of the proposed activity, as well as the location of delineated waters of the U.S. on the site. The drawings shall contain a title block, legend and scale, amount (in cubic yards) and area (in acres) of fill in Corps jurisdiction, including both permanent and temporary fills/structures. The ordinary high-water mark or, if tidal waters, the mean high-water mark and high tide line, should be shown (in feet), based on National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD) or other appropriate referenced elevation. Unless specifically waived by a specific Corps District, all drawings shall follow the South Pacific Division February 2016, Updated Map and Drawing Standards for the South Pacific Division Regulatory Program, or most recent update (available on the South Pacific Division website: https://www.spd.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNoticesandReferences.aspx/
2. Timing and Dewatering: Unless determined to be not practicable by the Corps, no dredged and/or fill material shall be discharged within standing or flowing waters. For perennial or intermittent drainages (e.g. natural or relocated streams, creeks, rivers), this may be accomplished through construction during periods of low flow (winter months) or during the dry season.
- When work is required to occur in flowing water, a dewatering plan is required to constitute a complete PCN. All dewatering structures and/or fills shall be removed within 30 days following completion of construction activities in waters of the U.S. For all dewatering activities that propose structures or fill in waters of the U.S. a dewatering plan must contain the following:
- Information on why it is not practicable to conduct construction activities during periods of low flow or during the dry season
- The proposed methods for dewatering
- The equipment that would be used to conduct the dewatering
- The length of time the area is proposed to be dewatered
- The area (in acres) and length (in linear feet) and locations of all structure(s) and/or fill in waters of the U.S.
- The expected extent of temporary impacts to downstream waters
- The method for removal of the structures and/or fill
- The method for how the proposed work shall be conducted to allow safe fish and wildlife passage during construction; and
- The method for restoration of the waters of the U.S. affected by the structure or fill following construction.
3. Suitable Fill: Use of broken concrete as fill or bank stabilization material is prohibited unless the applicant demonstrates that its use is the only practicable material (with respect to cost, existing technology, and logistics). Any applicant who wishes to use broken concrete as bank stabilization must provide notification to the District Engineer in accordance with General Condition 32 (Pre-Construction Notification) along with justification for such use. Use of broken concrete with rebar, used tires (loose or formed into bales), or car bodies is prohibited in all waters of the United States.
4. Compliance: The permittee shall allow Corps representatives to inspect the authorized activity and any avoidance, preservation and/or compensatory mitigation areas at any time deemed necessary to determine compliance with the terms and conditions of the NWP verification. The permittee will be notified by the Corps in advance of an inspection.