Corps’ St. Paul District to begin using nationwide permits

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, will begin using nationwide general permits for work in streams, wetlands, lakes and other waters of the United States within Minnesota and Wisconsin, including on federally-recognized Indian Reservations, April 24. 

Nationwide permits are developed by the Corps’ Headquarters with feedback from the public and stakeholders. The permits allow for a streamlined regulatory process across the country for projects with minimal impacts to aquatic resources.

“Nationwide permits provide consistency and predictability for those seeking a Corps permit,” said Chad Konickson, St. Paul District regulatory chief. “These permits allow reasonable development while still protecting the aquatic environment by encouraging applicants to minimize impacts to qualify for this streamlined authorization.”

The district will use 42 separate nationwide permits, which cover activities such as maintenance, shoreline stabilization, residential developments, commercial and institutional developments, and aquatic restoration. Regional conditions were developed by the district to ensure the permits appropriately address the types of development and aquatic resources found in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Using these permits promotes consistency across state lines and efficient and timely decisions for the regulated community.

Prior to implementing the 2017 nationwide permits, the St. Paul District largely relied on regional general permits developed for Minnesota and Wisconsin. Both types of permits are general permits that streamline the review process for activities with minimal adverse environmental impacts. The St. Paul District processes approximately 3,500 permit decisions annually, and 95 percent of them are general permits.  

The St. Paul District conducted public, agency and tribal outreach and consultation prior to transitioning to using nationwide permits. Throughout the summer, the district will continue outreach efforts to increase understanding of the nationwide permits. A complete list of the nationwide permits being issued within the district can be found on the St. Paul District website.  

The nearly 600 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the St. Paul District Fiscal Year 2016 $78 million budget, nearly 1,250 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $120 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

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