United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water (WH-556F). Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds (A-104 F) EPA843-F-93-001h March 1993 WETLAN DS FACT SH EET # 8 Clean Water Act §404: Permits THE §404 INDIVIDUAL PERMIT PROCESS . .ptsj^nng.v% -jyf.v yv.vj&j, ^\ .> ^ ^ Issues PoblkN. ™»«8 Within 15 days of receiving all peonftinf onnation, the Corps will issue a public notice that gives a brief dftCnpnon of the proposed activity, its location, potential environsaesKfttapacts, a deadline for receiving written comments, and the adfttt^br the agency receiving those comments. .• The application is reviewed by tlirCSrps and other interested Federal and State agencies, organization** ind individuals. The comment period can take 15 to 30 days depeadtogupon the nature of the activity. The necessity to gather infonM*fe»*ftd prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (OS) may furmwrextend the comment period. , Public Hearing 'Normally, the Corps does not totM a public hearing on a permit; however, dozens may request tlutf-orie be held. The Corps will use the testimony presented at the he«to(Jjte»S permit review. The Corps evaJuates the permitafSicatton based on its regulations (the Public Interest Review), an*&k$404 (bXD Guidelines. For every permit that explains how public permit ouui] Corps prepares a statement of finding wallaade. This document is provide dat* ti> assist in monitoring luating a permit -.:s FexmtlDenic ModMhd (nxnK*Uil««» Suit, •CantrHttOK You Cm Mito « Dtttotiia.' Stpmrbtr/Oaobv 1MO. U-O. TYPES OF §404 PERMITS SECTION 404(a) *. V. %V.-.Mfc\%V.-.V.-.V.»VASM.-.%-^VA\S\%-.-.-.-.-.V.-.-.-.iV.W.-.NV.'V •.-,..*••% Case-by-case review • Public interest review and compliance with theSection404(bX 1) Guidelines, which are regulations issued by EPA, with the Corps. Guidelines requirements include: • Mitigation sequence (1) avoidance of impacts through practi- cable alternatives, (2) minimization of impacts, and (3) compensation of unavoidable impacts through creation or restoration. • No significant degradation. • Compliance with other laws. SECTIQN4Q4(e) The Corps of Engineers has the authority to issue general permits for those categories of activities in wetlands and other aquatic areas that will have only minimal adverse environ- mental effects-individually or cumulatively. • General permits are widely used and speed up the §404 permitting process because they do not require a detailed, case-specific re- view. • General permits are issued on a nation- wide, regional, and State basis. If an activity falls under a nationwide per- mit, a discharger generally (but not al- ways) can proceed with the activity with- out first applying for an individual permit Individu^shWdccmtacttheirlocalCorps Districts for applicability of general per- mits. TOR MORE INFORMATION: call the.ŁP.A Wetlands Hotline* at 1,800-832^7828 contrActor operated ^ Printed on Recycled Paper ------- |