Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers February 16, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is soliciting comments for the reissuance of the existing nationwide permits (NWPs), general conditions, and definitions, with some modifications. The Corps is also proposing to issue two new NWPs and two new general conditions. The Corps is requesting comment on all aspects of these proposed nationwide permits. More specifically, the Corps is requesting comments on options for NWP 21, which authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States associated with surface coal mining activities, such as reissuing NWP 21 with modifications or not reissuing NWP 21. The Corps is also seeking comments on whether to reissue NWP 48 with modifications to authorize new commercial shellfish aquaculture activities or to issue a separate NWP to authorize only new commercial shellfish aquaculture activities. The reissuance process starts with today's publication of the proposed NWPs in the Federal Register for a 60-day comment period. The purpose of this Federal Register notice is to solicit comments on the proposed new and modified NWPs, as well as the NWP general conditions and definitions. Shortly after the publication of this Federal Register notice, each Corps district will publish a public notice to solicit comments on their proposed regional conditions for the new and modified NWPs. The comment period for these district public notices will be 45 days.