BEFORE  YOU BUY...   BEFORE  YOU  BUILD
Are you buying undeveloped land? Building a home, a retail center, or marina? How about a driveway or an addition to your
cabin?  In each case, the presence of wetlands may affect where and whether you build, buy, or develop. InNewYorkand
throughout the United States, wetlands are protected on public and private property.
WHY PROTECT  WETLANDS?
You may have grown up thinking that the best wetland was
oneconvertedtoanother use, drained foragricultureorfilled
for development. But wetlands contribute positively to the
social, economic, and environmental health of our nation in
manyways:

* Byfiltering pollutants, nutrients, and sediments, wetlands
  protect water quality in lakes, rivers, streams, and wells.

* By storing runoff from heavy rains and snow melts,
  wetlands reduce flood damage.

* By acting as shoreline buffers, wetlands protect against
  erosion from waves and currents.

* By providing essential habitat for fish, waterfowl, and
  otheranimals, wetlands provide recreational opportunities
  for state residents and visitors and contribute to local
  economies.

* Through nutrientexportwetlandssupportthefood chain
  on which wildlife, fisheries, and shellfisheries depend.
  These supportthe hunting, commercial and sport fishing,
  and shellfish industriesand contributeto local economies.

* By providing beautiful open spaces, wetlandsenhancethe
  quality of life, private property values, and tourism.


Many of these values were not widely appreciated until the
1970's and 80's. By then, more than half of the nation's
marshes, swamps, bogs, and prairie potholes were gone. The
need to stop wetland loss was critical and immediate. Local,
state, and federal governments responded by creating their
own regulatory programs.
WHERE  DO  i  GO  FROM  HERE?
Will wetland regulations affect your project? You can find
out through discussions with local officials, the staff of the
New YorkState Department of Environmental Conservation
(DEC), the New York State Adirondack Park Agency (APA),
theU.S.ArmyCorpsof Engineers(Corps),andtheinformation
presented here.  Let this fact sheet be your guide. Glance
through it once to see how it's organized - then use it as a
reference as you buy property, design your project, and
prepare permitapplications.
 (OUfc's  Insufo  7
 ^PROJECT PLANNING CHECKLIST
   The essential steps
 + GUIDE  TO WETLAND  LAWS
   Regulations, regulators, and related programs
 ^CONTACTS LIST
   A county-by-county phone directory

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  PROJECT     PLANNING     CHECKLIST
BUYING  AND  BUILDING  WITH   CARE
During the planning processof your project, you should contact your local government, the regional DECoffice,theAPAif your
property is located within the Adirondack Park, and the appropriate Corps district to determine what permits you may need.
Use the Contacts List in this guide to find the right numbers for your county.
Try to complete "STEP ONE" and "STEP TWO" before buying property!
C T p D  Get To Know The Property
          Soil types, wetlands, floodplains, steep slopes,
          and existing vegetation will all influence your
          purchase and/or design decisions. While some
of these decisions will be based on observation and good
judgment, others may be determined byzoning regulations
or environmental protection laws.

A. Gather relevant documents such as propertydescriptions,
  topographic maps, aerial photographs, zoning  maps,
  floodplain maps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National
  Wetland Inventory  maps, ordinances or ordinance
  summaries, etc.

B. Use the New York State Wetlands Maps to locate state-
  regulated wetlands that are officially mapped on the
  property. Note that APA wetlands aredistinct from other
  state-regulated wetlandsand that both of these can differ
  from federally-regulated wetlands. This is because these
  agencies usedifferentwetlandjurisdictionalordelineation
  criteria.

C. If wetland locationsand/orboundaries must bedetermined
  more precisely, you  may request a delineation  by the
  regionalCorpsoffices,DECoffices,ortheAPAheadquarters.
  Or, you maychooseaconsultanttodelineatethe boundaries
  for you (subject to state, APA and Corps verification).
  Given the time frames in which the government  offices
  can respond to delineation requests, property
  owners may get  a  quicker delineation
  through consulting services.
STEP
          Learn the Basics About Wetland
          Regulations
          Keep in mind that programs at three levels of
          government- local, state, & federal - may regulate
activities in wetlands (see the Guide to Wetland Protection
Laws that follows this checklist).
A. Ask local government, DECor APA, and Corps staff to help
   determine which laws apply to your project. Ifthelandis
   farmed or has been farmed in the past, contactthe Natural
   Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The land may
   beaconverted wetland, afarmed wetland, a priorconverted
   wetland, or an abandoned converted wetland.  Certain
   federal regulations are applicable to farmed wetlands,
   depending on the farming history.

B. Review these laws or summary pamphlets.  Remember
   that local ordinances may vary from one municipality to
   another, and may also differ from state and federal
   regulations.

C. Evaluate your project to determine whether it involves
   permitted, conditional, or prohibited activities under
   local ordinances.

D. Confirm yourconclusions with local government, DECor
   APA, and Corps staff. A pre-application conference with
   the Corps and DEC or APA is recommended, and can be
   arranged bycontactingtheappropriateregional regulatory
   office  of the Corps,  the DEC, or the Adirondack Park
   Agency headquarters.


         NEW  YORK  STATE

         TIDAL WETLAND   MAPS:

         The DEC has mapped tidal wetland boundaries as
         well as wetland types on aerial photography of
         the entire marine district. These maps may be
       viewed  at local government clerk's offices and the
      regional DEC offices. Tidal  wetland maps may be
    purchased from the Nassau-Suffolk Blue Print Co., 354
  Wheeler Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788. Contact the
regional DEC office for information.

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C T p D    Modify Your Project Design Or Location
»           If Necessary
           A.  Make and use a checklist of laws that affect
              your property.
  B. Lookfordesignalternativesthatavoidwetlands. Minimize
    the project scope and its adverse impacts.

  C. If the project design can't be  altered to comply with
    applicable  regulations, try to change the location  or
    investigate an alternative use for the property.
C T p D   Complete Permit Applications
          Rememberthatyou may need permits from two
          or more regulatory agencies, and that each permit
          mustbeapproved beforeyou begin. Violation of
these permit requirements is causeforenforcement actions by
local, state, and/orfederal authorities which may imposefines
and requirecompensation.
                                    JOINT  PERMIT  APPLICATION  PROCESS
                                    (DEC  AND  CORPS)

                                    Outside the Adirondack Park, a joint DEC/Corps application procedure is in place
                                    for wetland permits. Application to DEC is sufficient; a copy of theapplication will
                                    automatically be forwarded by DEC to the Corps. The Corps will then begin its
                                    processing of the application. For wetlands which the Corps but not the DEC has
                                    jurisdiction,applicationstotheregionalCorpsofficearerequired. Forapplications
                                    inside the Adirondack Park, separate applications to the APA and the Corps are
                                    required.

                                    A. Include scale drawings,  cross-sections,  property descriptions,  proposed
                                       const ruction timetables, descriptions of construction techniques, photographs,
                                       permits fees, and other supplementary materials as necessary. To expedite
                                       review of your proposal include a set of drawings on 8.5" by 11" size paper.

                                    B. Allow enough lead timeinyourprojecttoaccommodate permit processing (see
                                       Permit Review Timetable on page 8) and any potential modifications or special
                                       conditions required in the regulatory process.
  NEW  YORK  STATE
  FRESHWATER   WETLANDS    MAPS:
  The DEC has mapped the approximate boundaries of all freshwater wetlands of 12.4 acres or more in New York. In some
  cases, these maps include smaller wetlands of unusual local importance, and within the Adirondack Parkthe maps include
  wetlands down to the one acre threshold and all wetlands adjacent to open water. These maps are used to determine the
  presenceoffreshwaterwetlands on particular properties. Copies of maps are availableforreviewat local government clerk's
  offices, DEC regional off ices, and at the APA headquarters for those counties within the AdirondackPark. TO PURCHASE
  MAPS: DEC provides an Order Form for obtaining specific maps from Syracuse Blue Print Co., Inc., 825 E.Genesee St.,
  Syracuse, NY, 13210. Maps are $2.00 each plus shipping.

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     GUIDE   TO   WETLAND   PROTECTION   LAWS
           A Directory of Regulations, Regulators, and Related Programs
LOCAL WETLAND PROTECTION
The Freshwater Wetlands Act allows local governments to
assume jurisdiction for regulating wetlands once DEC has
filed a map fortheirareas. Very few localities have done so
to date. However, local governments may protect wetlands
under separate local  ordinances.  Contact your  local
government office for general guidance and information,
application  forms for local zoning programs, review of
wetland maps, assistance with wetland delineations, and
explanation of permitted uses. In cities or villages, call the
municipal office to reach the appropriate person.

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION (DEC)
DEC regulatory wetlands maps are located at appropriate
county, town, and clerk offices. Contact the appropriate
regional DEC office for general guidance and information,
application forms, and review of wetland maps. DEC also
conducts wetland delineations. See the Contacts List for a
county-by-county listing of phone numbers.

Freshwater Wetlands Act
This Act preserves, protects, and conserves those freshwater
wetlands in the state that are greater than 12.4 acres in size,
and any smaller wetlands of unusual local importance. An
adjacent area of 100 feet is also protected to provide a buffer
zonetothewetland. The Freshwater Wetlands Act grantsthe
administration of wetlands within the Adirondack Parktothe
APA. Wetlands over one acre in size, or any size wetlands
adjacent to open waterare regulated within the Adirondack
Park.

Tidal Wetlands Act
This Act preserves and protects wetlands (salt marshes, flats,
etc.) now or formerly connected to tidal waters. Adjacent
areas within 300 feet (or 150 feet in New York City) of tidal
wetlands are also protected underthe Act.

Water Quality Certification
Section 401 of the federal Clean Water Act requires  state
certification that a federal permit (see the Corps section
following) meets statewaterqualitystandardsasa condition
ofthefederalpermitapproval. In most cases DECadministers
water quality certification.  Water quality certifications are
required forall actions under regulatory authority of Section
404 of the federal Clean Water Act.
Waterfront Revitalization of Coastal Areas and
Inland Waterways Act
U nderthis Act, the NYS Department of State (DOS) admi nisters
the coastal program  containing policies to which state
agencies must conform.  Also, the federal Coastal Zone
Management Act requires notice of consistency with the
state coastal zone management plan. The NYS DOS Coastal
Zone Management program reviews project consistency.
NYSDOS, Division of Coastal Resources: (518)474-6000.

New York State Coastal Erosion Hazard Areas Law
This program regulates activities on certain lands along the
coastal fresh and salt waters of the state, and identifies
Natural Protective Features and Structural Hazard Areas
along  these coasts on Coastal Erosion Hazard Area Maps.
DEC Bureau of Flood Protection (518) 457-3157.

Use and Protection of Waters Program
This program regulates activities thatoccurinornear navigable
and protected waters of the state.  Regulated activities
includeany alteration orexcavation of the bed or banksof the
waterway including adjacent wetlands.

Uniform Procedures  Act
This Act standardizes procedures for processing DEC's major
regulatory permits. It assures fast and complete reviews,
establishes timetables, and encourages public participation
in permit review and decision-making.

State  Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)
The provisions of the Uniform Procedures Act require that
applications for DEC permits cannot beconsidered complete
unless certain requirements of SEQRA have been met. This
initially involves the filing by the applicant of a completed
Environmental Assessment Form (EAF). Morecomplexprojects
may require  a more lengthy and detailed Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS).

NEW  YORK  STATE ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY
Within the Adirondack Park, the Adirondack Park Agency
(APA) administers the NYS Freshwater Wetlands Act and the
APAAct, both of which regulate activities in or near wetlands.
Wetland mapsforthoseportionsof counties lying within the
Adirondack Parkare located at APAheadquartersand in town
and county clerk offices of affected municipalities.
APA: (518)891-4050.

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Adirondack Park Agency Act
The APA Act protects wetlands by regulating activities in or
nearwetlandsthatposethethreat of adverse impact, including
activities such as the subdivision of land.

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (CORPS)
The Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction over activities in
waters of the United States, including wetlands, under the
following legislation:

Clean Water Act - Section 404
This section of the Act regulates discharges to waters of the
United States, including filling, soil movement, and the place-
ment of certain pilings in wetlands, and establishes a permit
program to ensure that such  discharges comply  with
environmental requirements.  Discharges of dredged or fill
material are regulated forall waters and wetlands regardless
of size. Pre-approved general or nationwide permits may be
available  for specific minor  activities in wetlands.
Compensatory mitigation is only accepted for unavoidable
losses under the federal program. The Corps administers the
federal permit program.

Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 - Section 10
This section of the Act regulates any activity that affects the
course location and capacity of a navigable water. It regulates
all activities that  take place  in, on, above, or underneath
navigable waters.  Each Corps district maintains a list of
navigable waters regulated underSection 10. Coastal waters,
major rivers, the BargeCanal, and theGreatLakesareexamples
of navigable waters.

Contact the Corps district offices in New York City or Buffalo
for information aboutthesefederal regulations (seeContects
List). PermitapplicationsforCorps-regulatedactivitiescanbe
obtained from the Corps or from regional DEC offices.

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
Within the Section 404 Program, EPA develops the environ-
mental guidelines by which permit applications must  be
evaluated, reviews proposed permits, mayprohibitdischarges
with unacceptable adverse  impacts (404[c]), establishes
jurisdictional scope of waters of the United States; and
interprets Section 404 exemptions. EPAand the Corps share
enforcement authority. EPA Region 2:(212)637-3783.
FARM SERVICE AGENCY (FSA)
FSA administers the 1990 federal Farm Bill, which includesthe
Wetlands Reserve and the Swampbuster programs. County
FSAagents are best able to answerwetland questions relating
to these prog rams and can provide aerial land (crop) photos.
FSA: (315) 477-6301

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
(NRCS)
N RCS field offices in most counties providetechnical support
for the FSA prog rams; they conduct wetland inventories and
makewetland determinations for the Swampbuster prog ram.
The EPA, Corps, and N RCS aredevelopingprocedurestoallow
farmers  to  rely on written NRCS wetland jurisdictional
determinations as the final federal government position on
the extent of Section 404 Clean Water Act jurisdiction. N RCS
identifications are not a substitute for NYS Wetland Maps.
NRCS: (31 5) 477-6504

U.S.  FISH AND WILDLIFE  SERVICE (USFWS)
USFWS field offices in New Yorkassist with wetland restoration
plans and management questions. The USFWS field office
reviews federal permit applications and related mitigation
plans, and participates in consultations with other resource
agencies regarding threatened orendangeredwildlifespecies
issues (Section 7 of the federal Endangered Species Act).
USFWS: (607) 753-9334.

COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
DISTRICTS (SWCD)
Thesedistrictsare partners with FSAand NRCS inassisting the
local community in particular, and in working with counties
in protecting their natural resources.  They generally have
copies of information such as DEC maps, soil surveys, and
aerial photographs. ForSWCD contacts, contact the District
Committee: (518)457-3738

COUNTY AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT COMMISSIONS
These local review bodies develop resource and other local
land use plans and recommend regulatory ordinances to the
local governing body. They mayalso work with local planning
or zoning staff in administering local land use laws.

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Adjacent Area (New York State):
adjacent area means those areas of land or water that are
outside a wetland and within 100 feet (or 300 feet in tidal
wetlands;  150 feet  in New York City  in tidal wetlands),
measured  horizontally, from the boundary of the wetland.
DEC may establish an adjacent area broader than 100 feet
where necessary to protect and preserveafreshwaterwetland.
Mitigation:
mitigation refers to the avoidance and  minimization  of
detrimental impactsand compensation forthe loss of wetlands
and theirfunctions. It is required in the Corps permit process
if alternative siting and efforts to reduce impacts still result in
wetlands loss.
National Wetlands Inventory Maps (NWI):
NWI maps show the location and type of wetlands in the
United States. They can  be overlaid upon U.S. Geological
Survey topographic maps. NWI maps are not a substitute for
NYS Wetlands Maps or federal wetland jurisdiction.  NWI
mapping has been undertaken with the use of aerial photo
technology, and not all mappings have been ground-truthed.
The NWI ma ps can be purchased throughtheCornell Institute
for Resource Information  Systems  (Cornell  IRIS)  at
(607)255-extensions 6529 or 4868. Contact 1-800-USA-
MAPS for USGS topo maps.
Navigable Waters (federal):
all  presently,  historically,  and
reasonably potential navigable waters and all waters subject
to the ebb and flow of the tide u p to mea n high water in tidal
water and up to ordinary high water in freshwater areas.
Ordinary High Water Mark (federal):
the point on the bank or shore to which the presence and
action of surface water is so continuous as to leave a distinct
mark by erosion,  destruction  or prevention of terrestrial
vegetation, predominance of aquatic vegetation, or other
easily recognized characteristic.  The OHWM defines the bed
of a lake, river, or stream.
Regulated Activity (New York State):
anyform of draining, dredging, excavation, or mining, either
directly or indirectly; any form of dumping or filling, either
directly or indirectly; erecting any structures, constructing
roads, driving pilings, or placing any other obstructions
whether or not changing the ebb and flow of the water; any
form of pollution, including, but not limited to, installing a
septic tank, running a sewer outfall,  discharging sewage
treatment or other liquefied wastes into or so as to drain into
a wetland; or any other activity that substantially impairs any
of the several functions or benefits of  wetlands.  These
activities are su bject to regulation whether or not they occu r
upon the wetland itself, if they impinge upon or otherwise
substantially affect the wetlands and are located within the
adjacent area. In the Adirondack Park, subdivision of land
within wetlands is a regulated activity.
Swampbuster:
a provision of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990 (1990 Farm Bill) that denies eligibility for all U.S.
Department of Agriculture farm program  benefits to any
person who converts a wetland by draining, dredging, filling,
leveling, or any other means after December 23,1985.
Wetlands (federal):
those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or
ground wateratafrequencyand duration to support, and that
under normal circumstances  do support, a prevalence of
vegetation typically adapted forlifein saturated soil conditions.
Wetlands include swamps, bogs, marshes, and wet meadows.
Wetlands (New York State):
a) lands and submerged lands... supporting aquatic orsemi-
aquatic vegetation;   b) containing the  remnants of any
vegetation that is not aquatic or semi-aquatic that has died
because of wet conditions over a sufficiently long period,
provided that such wet conditions do not exceed a maximum
seasonal water depth of 6ft.andthatsuchconditionscanbe
expected to persist indefinitely barring human intervention;
c) lands a nd water su bstantially enclosed by aquatic or semi-
aquatic vegetation  as per a)  and b);  and  d) the waters
overlying the  areas set forth in a) and b) and  the lands
underlying c).
Wetlands Reserve Program:
a voluntary program, piloted in a number of states including
New York, authorized through the 1990 Farm Bill, offering
landowners a  chance to receive payments for restoring and
protecting wetlands on theirfarms.

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     CONTACTS  LIST:  NEW  YORK  WETLAND   REGULATIONS
  COUNTY
CLERK
DEC
CORPS
COUNTY
CLERK
DEC
CORPS
Albany
Allegany
Bronx
Broome
Cattaraugus
Cayuga
Chautauqua
Chemung
Chenango
Clinton*
Columbia
Cortland
Delaware
Dutchess
Erie
Essex
Franklin*
Fulton*
Genesee
Greene
Hamilton*
Herkimer*
Jefferson
Kings
Lewis*
Livingston
Madison
Manhattan
Monroe
Montgomery
Nassau
518-487-5110 518-357-2069 518-270-0588
716-268-9270 716-372-6242 716-879-4330
718-590-3646 718-482-4997 212-264-0184
607-778-2451 607-753-3095 716-879-4330
716-938-9111 716-372-6242 716-879-4330
315-253-1271 315-426-7438 716-879-4330
716-753-4331 716-372-6242 716-879-4330
607-737-2920 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
607-337-1450 607-753-3095 716-879-4330
518-565-4700 518-897-1234 518-270-0588
518-828-3339 518-357-2069 518-270-0588
607-753-5021 607-753-3095 716-879-4330
607-746-2123 607-652-7741 518-270-0588
914-486-2132 914-256-3054 212-264-0184
716-858-8865 716-851-7165 716-879-4330
518-873-3600 518-897-1234 518-270-0588
518-481-1684 518-897-1234 518-270-0588
518-762-0556 518-623-3671 518-270-0588
716-344-2550 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
518-943-2050 518-357-2069 518-270-0588
518-518-7111 518-897-1234 518-270-0588
315-867-1129 315-793-2555 716-879-4330
315-785-3081 315-7852245 716-879-4330
718-643-7037 718-482-4997 212-264-0184
315-376-5333 315-785-2245 716-879-4330
716-243-7010 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
315-366-2260 315-426-7438 716-879-4330
212-374-8360 718-482-4997 212-264-0184
716-428-5177 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
518-853-8115 518-357-2069 518-270-0588
516-571-2661 516-444-0365 212-264-3912
Niagara
Oneida*
Onondaga
Ontario
Orange
Orleans
Oswego
Otsego
Putnam
Queens
Rensselaer
Richmond
Rockland
St. Lawrence*
Saratoga*
Schenectady
Schoharie
Schuyler
Seneca
Steuben
Suffolk
Sullivan
Tioga
Tompkins
Ulster
Warren*
Washington*
Wayne
Westchester
Wyoming
Yates
716-439-7022 716-851-7165 716-879-4330
315-798-5775 315-793-2555 716-879-4330
315-435-2227 315-426-7438 716-879-4330
716-396-4200 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
914-291-2690 914-256-3054 212-264-0184
716-589-5334 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
315-349-8385 315-426-7438 716-879-4330
607-547-4276 607-652-7741 518-270-0588
914-225-3641 914-256-3054 212-264-0184
718-520-3135 718-482-4997 212-264-0184
518-270-4080 518-357-2069 518-270-0588
718-390-5396 718-482-4997 212-264-0184
914-638-5221 914-256-3054 212-264-0184
315-379-2237 315-785-2245 716-879-4330
518-885-2213 518-623-3671 518-270-0588
518-388-4221 518-357-2069 518-270-0588
518-295-8316 607-652-7741 518-270-0588
607-535-8133 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
315-539-5655 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
607-776-9631 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
516-852-2001 516-444-0365 212-264-3912
914-794-3000 914-256-3054 212-264-0184
607-687-8660 607-753-3095 716-879-4330
607-274-5551 607-753-3095 716-879-4330
914-340-3040 914-256-3054 212-264-0184
518-761-6427 518-623-3671 518-270-0588
518-746-2171 518-623-3671 518-270-0588
315-946-5870 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
914-285-3080 914-256-3054 212-264-6730
716-786-8810 716-851-7165 716-879-4330
315-536-5120 716-226-2466 716-879-4330
* Portions of these counties lie within the Adirondack Park (518) 891-4050            For general wetlands information call: EPA Wetlands Hotline at 1-800-832-7828
 New York County Clerks telephone listings are from http://www.usaguides.com/nys/ctyclrks.htm

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   PERMIT      REVIEW     TIMETABLE
FEDERAL  LEVEL
The Corps review process normally is concluded within
60 days of receipt of a complete application. During this
time, the Corps issues a public notice, solicits public and
agency comments for 30 days, evaluates the proposed
action, and issues a decision. If a public hearing is held,
the decision process is lengthened.
Where a controversial action is
proposed or where an EIS is
required,  the permit
process may extend to
several  months  or
more.
                       STATE  LEVEL
                       When a project application is declared complete, the review
                       process begins. For minor projects, a decision should be
                       made within 45 calendar days. Major project reviews can
                       take up to 90 days if no public hearing is held, and up to 60
                       daysafterthecloseof a public hearing. Timeframesmaybe
                       suspended by mutual agreement of DECandtheapplicant,
                       by enforcement actions, or by SEQRA reviews.
      Printed on
      recycled paper
                      If EPA, USFWS, or NMFS exercise their option to elevate a
                      permit decision to the national level, u nder Section 404(q),
                      the decision may be delayed by 30 to 60 days.  IF EPA
                      decides to exercise its Clean Water Act Section 404(c)
                      authority to deny or restrict use of a site for placement of
                      fill material, the Corps cannot issue a permit. The 404(c)
                      process involves public participation and possibly hearings,
                      and could take up to 6 months.


                      Atthestatelevel,timeframesand processing procedures
                      forwetland perm its a re governed in New York by provisions
                      of the Uniform Procedures  Act and  its implementing
                      regulations (6NYCRR Part 621).  Within 15 days of receipt
                      of an application, DEC will determine whether it contains
                      all the information needed to begin review.  If the
                      application is incomplete, the Regulatory Affairs staff will
                      send a notice detailing what is  needed.


                      United States
                      Environmental Protection
                      Agency
EPA Region 2, DEPP-WPB (212)637-3783
Publication #EPA-902-F-93-001
July 1993.  Revised February 1994.  Revised April 1999

The concept for this brochure originated with and was first implemented by the
Wisconsin  Department of Natural Resources. We thank that agency for kindly
providing their materials for our use. We also thank Washington State Department
of Ecology for use of the illustrations on page 5.
                            &EPA

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