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USACE launches new Regulatory Request System

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program has launched its beta version of the national Regulatory Request System, or RRS. During the initial phases of the RRS rollout, our regulatory process in the St. Paul District will remain unchanged. We will be collaborating closely with our state permitting agencies and will continue to keep the public informed of any changes in permit application procedures that may arise during the RRS rollout.

Additional features will be added to the RRS this spring.  Before implementing any changes, we will work with state permitting agencies to determine which features will enhance public service in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

At this time, the public may test the RRS to request pre-application meetings or jurisdictional determinations. However, we will continue to process all requests received through our statewide electronic mailboxes or obtained from state agencies.

The St. Paul District Regulatory Program strongly encourages pre-application meetings, where regulatory team members can provide valuable advice to permit applicants to help streamline the permit process. We will also continue to prepare jurisdictional determinations that result in reducing, expediting, or eliminating permit requirements. Our regulatory project managers will continue to actively identify non-jurisdictional waters on project sites and prepare jurisdictional determinations to eliminate permit requirements on those waters. We are generally unable to divert resources from permitting activities to prepare jurisdictional determinations where there is no project proposal. This approach supports timely permit decisions and ensures we meet the public's needs effectively.

We appreciate your cooperation as we strive to enhance and streamline our regulatory processes for the benefit of all stakeholders. If you have questions specific to the St. Paul District’s use of the RRS, please contact: Jarrett Cellini by email at Jarrett.B.Cellini@usace.army.mil.


USACE Regulatory Announcement
USACE launches new Regulatory Request System

Published Jan. 31, 2024

USACE announces the launch of its new Regulatory Request System, or RRS. The RRS is designed to make the review of permit requests a transparent and efficient process for the public. The RRS, currently in a beta version, provides general information on the regulatory program and allows the public to submit pre-application meeting requests and jurisdictional determination requests.

Additional capability is scheduled this spring. This added capability will allow users the ability to electronically submit individual and general permit applications and other necessary information, saving time and reducing the need for paper-based submissions.

The RRS will streamline the permit application process and underscores USACE commitment to modernizing our application process, meeting user expectations, and providing a transparent, straightforward process for the timely review of permit requests.

Stay tuned for further updates on the full release of the RRS. Please click on the following link to access RRS: rrs.usace.army.mil

For additional information on or to provide feedback on RRS, please contact the rrs@usace.army.mil.

Announcements

2022 National Wetland Plant List

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as part of an interagency effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, is announcing the availability of the final 2022 National Wetland Plant List (NWPL). The Federal Register Notice for the 2022 NWPL update can be found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-02-13/pdf/2024-02903.pdf.

The NWPL provides plant species wetland indicator status ratings, which are used in determining whether the hydrophytic vegetation factor is met when conducting wetland delineations under the Clean Water Act and wetland determinations under the Wetland Conservation Provisions of the Food Security Act. Other applications of the NWPL include wetland restoration, establishment, and enhancement projects. The list is effective as of 13 February 2024 and will be used in any wetland delineations performed after this date. A summary of the 2022 NWPL is provided in the table below.

 

2022 National Wetland Plant List Updates

Scientific Name

Region

2020 Rating

2022 Rating

Isocoma menziesii

Arid West

FAC

FACU

Populus fremontii

Arid West

FAC

FACW

 

 

Completed wetland delineation/determination forms should reference the version of the NWPL used to complete the form. The final NWPL is available at https://wetland-plants.sec.usace.army.mil/ (preferred browsers are Chrome and Firefox). Please note that while the web address for the NWPL website has not changed with this update, the website itself has undergone updates to enhance the utility of the NWPL.

Updated versions of the Automated Wetland Determination Data Sheets (ADS), which reflect revisions to the NWPL, can be found at the following link: https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/reg_supp/ within the “General Information” dropdown. More info regarding the ADS and its utility in wetland delineation can be found at the following link: https://www.usace.army.mil/Media/Announcements/Article/2989646/5-april-2022-army-corps-of-engineers-announces-the-release-of-automated-wetland/.

 

Recent Regulatory Public Notices

2017-03990-SRK (Merriam Junction Trail)
Public Notice: The purpose of this project is to construct a trail that links trail systems and recreational opportunities in Scott and Carver counties while ensuring future trail section integrity to affected areas along the Minnesota River. Scott County is proposing the conversion of a 2.2-mile-long segment of an abandoned railbed to a new multi-use, non-motorized trail between the Minnesota River Bluffs Regional Trail in the city of Carver (Carver County) to the Louisville Swamp Trailhead main parking area off 145th Street West, located within Louisville Township (Scott County).
Date of Expiration: 04/09/2024
2019-02609-MJG (Hibbing Taconite Tailings Basin Eastern Perimiter Dam)
In order to reduce risk at Hibbing Taconite Company (HTC), a re-evaluation of the dam design has occurred and downstream berming was identified as the method to reduce risk and allow HTC to continue to operate a safe tailings storage facility. The total length of the downstream berms on the eastern dam would be approximately 3,350 feet long and extend outward up to a maximum of 475 feet.
Date of Expiration: 04/06/2024
Special Public Notice - Acceptance of Funds from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The purpose of this Special Public Notice is to inform the general public that the St. Paul District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (District) has decided to accept and expend funds contributed by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT).
Date of Expiration:

Regulatory News

  • Corps of Engineers issues Northshore Mining Company permit

    ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District issued a permit to Northshore Mining Company today for discharges of dredged and fill material into waters of the United States resulting from its Tailings Basin Progression project.

About Our Regulatory & Permits Office

The purpose of Corps of Engineers' regulatory program is to protect the nation's aquatic resources, while allowing reasonable development through fair, flexible and balanced permit decisions. The Corps evaluates permit applications for all regulated activities that occur in the nation's waters, including wetlands.

The Corps' regulatory program includes Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The St. Paul District's regulatory jurisdiction covers the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Under Section 10, a Corps permit is required to do any work in, over or under a 'Navigable Water of the U.S.' Waterbodies have been designated as 'Navigable Waters of the U.S.' based on their past, present or potential use for transportation for interstate commerce.

Under Section 404, a Corps permit is required for the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the U.S. Many waterbodies and wetlands in the nation are waters of the U.S. and are subject to the Corps' Section 404 regulatory authority.

 

Contact Information

 Minnesota

USACE_Requests_MN@usace.army.mil

 Field Office Address
 Bemidji 4111 Technology
Drive NW, Suite 295
Bemidji, MN 56601
218-444-6381
 Brainerd 10867 East Gull Lake Drive NW
Brainerd, MN 56401
651-290-5767
 Duluth 600 South Lake
Avenue, Suite 211
Duluth, MN 55802
218-788-6408
 La Crescent 1114 South Oak Street
La Crescent, MN 55947
651-290-5902
 Wisconsin

USACE_Requests_WI@usace.army.mil

 Field Office

 Address

 Brookfield 250 North Sunnyslope
Road, Suite 296
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-641-5498

 Green
   Bay

211 North Broadway
Street, Suite 221
Green Bay, WI 54303
920-448-2824
 Hayward

10637 Hayward Court
Unit 2
Hayward, WI 54843
715-934-2170

 La Crescent 1114 South Oak Street
La Crescent, MN 55947
651-290-5903
 Stevens
   Point
2926 Post Road,
Suite B
Stevens Point, WI 54481
715-345-7911

 District Headquarters

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
St. Paul District - Regulatory

332 Minnesota St., Suite E1500
St. Paul, MN 55101

Tel: (651) 290-5525
800-290-5847 x 5525
 

 Agricultural Inquiries

Tel: (651) 290-5378

Email

Joint Permit Applications

Minnesota
Minnesota Joint Application Form 


Wisconsin
Wisconsin Joint Application Form
Checklist for Wisconsin Joint Application


If you need immediate assistance,
contact the St. Paul District at
(800) 290-5847 ext. 5525 or
651-290-5525

Regulatory Request System, or RRS, Graphic