20201094 Ver 1_USACE Permit_20210305

Strickland, Bev
From:
Browning, Kimberly D CIV USARMY CESAW (USA)
<[e-mail]>
Sent:
Friday, March 5, 2021 1:12 PM
To:
Baumgartner, Tim; Clemmons, Micky
Cc:
Tugwell, Todd J CIV USARMY CESAW (US); Haywood, Casey M CIV (USA); Davis, Erin B;
Wilson, Travis W.; Leslie, Andrea J; Bowers, Todd; Reid, Matthew; Wiesner, Paul;
McLendon, C S CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Smith, Ronnie D CIV USARMY CESAW
(USA); King, Scott ([e-mail]); Jones, M Scott (Scott) CIV USARMY
CESAW (USA); Brown, David W CIV USARMY CESAW (USA); Youngman, Holland J;
Wilson, Lauren B; Xu, Lin
Subject:
[External] NWP-27 Authorization/ NCDMS Blair Creek Mitigation Site/ Clay County/
SAW-2018-00449
Attachments:
2017 NWP 27.pdf, NWP-27_Blair Creek_SAW-2018-00449.pdf
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Tim and Micky,
Attached to this message is the requested Section 404 permit authorization for the following project:
Project Name: NCDMS Blair Creek Mitigation Site
USACE Action ID: SAW-2018-00449
Location: Latitude: 35.026069 °N Longitude:-83.831862 °W
County: Clay
Also attached are the corresponding regional and general conditions, and the permit compliance certification.
Please note that design plans submitted with the PCN as well as all special, general and regional conditions must be
strictly adhered to in order for this verification letter/authorization to remain valid.
This electronic copy is your official Department of the Army authorization; no paper copy will be mailed.
Very Respectfully,
Kim
Kim Browning
Mitigation Project Manager, Regulatory Division I U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
1

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
WILMINGTON DISTRICT
Action Id. SAW-2018-00449 County: Clay U.S.G.S. Quad: Havesville
GENERAL PERMIT (REGIONAL AND NATIONWIDE) VERIFICATION
Permittee:NC Division of Mitigation Service Permittee: Michael Baker Engineering Inc
Attn: Mr. Tim Baumgartner Attn: Micky Clemmons
Address: 217 West Jones Street, Suite 3000A Address: 797 Haywood Rd, Suite 201
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 Asheville, NC 28806
Telephone:[phone] Telephone: [phone]
Size (acres) 8.0 acres Nearest Town Havesville
Nearest Waterway North & South Fork Blair Creek River Basin Hiwassee
USGS HUC 06020002 Coordinates Latitude: 35.026069 °N Longitude:-83.831862
ow
Location description: The NCDMS Blair Creek Mitigation site is located approximately 0.15 miles
west of the intersection of Cherry Road and NC Highway 69, at 452 Waldroup Road in
Havesville, Clay County, North Carolina. PIN: 5550 0041 3626, 5550 0030 9497, 5459 0049
5013, 5459 0049 3689, and 5459 0039 7402.
Description of projects area and activity: The co -applicants, NCDMS and Michael Banker
Enaineerina. Inc. have reauested a Deoartment of the Armv permit authorization to discharae
dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States associated with the NCDMS Blair
Creek Mitigation Site. Implementation of the proposed restoration and enhancement activities
will result in the discharge of fill material into 4,244 linear feet of stream channel, and 1.024
acres of wetlands associated with mechanized land clearing, excavation, placement of fill
material, and stream relocation activities for the mitigation site. Compensatory mitigation is
NOT reauired in coniunction with the aforementioned activities. Refer to the enclosed Table 1
for a detailed summary of impacts
Applicable Law: ® Section 404 (Clean Water Act, 33 USC 1344)
❑ Section 10 (Rivers and Harbors Act, 33 USC 403)
Authorization: Regional General Permit Number and/or Nationwide Permit Number: NWP 27 —
Aquatic Habitat Restoration, Enhancement, and Establishment Activities
SEE ATTACHED RGP or NWP GENERAL, REGIONAL AND SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Your work is authorized by the above referenced permit provided it is accomplished in strict
accordance with the attached conditions and your submitted application and attached
information dated February 16, 2021. Any violation of the attached conditions or deviation from
your submitted plans may subject the permittee to a stop work order, a restoration order, a
Class I administrative penalty, and/or appropriate legal action.
This verification will remain valid until the expiration date identified below unless the nationwide and/or
regional general permit authorization is modified, suspended, or revoked. If, prior to the expiration date
identified below, the nationwide and/or regional general permit authorization is reissued and/or
modified, this verification will remain valid until the expiration date identified below, provided it complies
with all requirements of the modified nationwide permit. If the nationwide and/or regional general permit
authorization expires or is suspended, revoked, or is modified, such that the activity would no longer

SAW-2018-00449
comply with the terms and conditions of the nationwide permit, activities which have commenced (i.e.,
are under construction) or are under contract to commence in reliance upon the nationwide and/or
regional general permit, will remain authorized provided the activity is completed within twelve months
of the date of the nationwide and/or regional general permit's expiration, modification or revocation,
unless discretionary authority has been exercised on a case -by -case basis to modify, suspend or
revoke the authorization.
Activities subject to Section 404 (as indicated above) may also require an individual Section 401 Water
Quality Certification. You should contact the NC Division of Water Resources (telephone 919-807-
6300) to determine Section 401 requirements.
For activities occurring within the twenty coastal counties subject to regulation under the Coastal Area
Management Act (CAMA), prior to beginning work you must contact the N.C. Division of Coastal
Management in Morehead City, NC, at [phone].
This Department of the Army verification does not relieve the permittee of the responsibility to obtain
any other required Federal, State or local approvals/permits.
If there are any questions regarding this verification, any of the conditions of the Permit, or the Corps
of Engineers regulatory program, please contact Kimberly Browning, 919.554.4884 x60.
Kimberly Dd n 12I I e Digitally signed by Kimberly
Danielle Browning
Browning ate: 021.03.05 13:02:29
Corps Regulatory Official:
Expiration Date of Verification: March 18, 2022
Date: March 5, 2021

SAW-2018-00449
Table 1. Authorized discharge of fill material into waters of the United States in association with the
NCDMS Blair Creek Mitigation Site (SAW-2018-00449).
1. Total Impacts: Stream — 4244 LF, Wetland — 1.024 ac
Wetland:
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*Impacts are associated with aquatic resource restoration and enhancement activities and are
expected to result in a net gain in Waters of the US. The purpose of all impacts is for ecological
restoration.
Stream Impact S4/Unnamed Tributary is labeled UT1 in the Final Mitigation Plan.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
1. The permittee understands and agrees that the document entitled "Blair Creek Mitigation
Project — Mitigation Plan --FINAL" dated January 2021 is incorporated and made part of
this permit. Execution of the work and terms given in the approved mitigation plan are a
condition of this permit.
2. This Nationwide Permit verification does not imply suitability of this property for
compensatory mitigation for any particular project. The use of any portion of this site
as compensatory mitigation for a particular project will be determined during the permit
review process for that project.

SAW-2018-00449
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION
Action ID Number: SAW-2018-00449
Permittee: NC Division of Mitigation Services
Attn: Mr. Tim Baumgartner
Project Name: NCDMS Blair Creek Mitigation Site
Date Verification Issued: March 5, 2021
Project Manager: Kim Browning
County: Clay
Michael Baker Engineering, Inc
Attn: Micky Clemmons
Upon completion of the activity authorized by this permit and any mitigation required by the
permit, sign this certification and return it to the following address:
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
WILMINGTON DISTRICT
Regulatory Division Mitigation Office
Attn: Kim Browning
3331 Heritage Trade Drive, Suite 105
Raleigh, NC 27587
Please note that your permitted activity is subject to a compliance inspection by a U. S. Army
Corps of Engineers representative. Failure to comply with any terms or conditions of this
authorization may result in the Corps suspending, modifying or revoking the authorization
and/or issuing a Class I administrative penalty, or initiating other appropriate legal action.
I hereby certify that the work authorized by the above referenced permit has been completed
in accordance with the terms and condition of the said permit, and required mitigation was
completed in accordance with the permit conditions.
Signature of Permittee
Date

NATIONWIDE PERMIT 27
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
FINAL NOTICE OF ISSUANCE AND MODIFICATION OF NATIONWIDE PERMITS
FEDERAL REGISTER
AUTHORIZED MARCH 19, 2017
Aquatic Habitat Restoration, Enhancement, and Establishment Activities. Activities in
waters of the United States associated with the restoration, enhancement, and establishment
of tidal and non -tidal wetlands and riparian areas, the restoration and enhancement of non -
tidal streams and other non -tidal open waters, and the rehabilitation or enhancement of tidal
streams, tidal wetlands, and tidal open waters, provided those activities result in net
increases in aquatic resource functions and services.
To be authorized by this NWT, the aquatic habitat restoration, enhancement, or establishment
activity must be planned, designed, and implemented so that it results in aquatic habitat that
resembles an ecological reference. An ecological reference may be based on the
characteristics of an intact aquatic habitat or riparian area of the same type that exists in the
region. An ecological reference may be based on a conceptual model developed from
regional ecological knowledge of the target aquatic habitat type or riparian area.
To the extent that a Corps permit is required, activities authorized by this NWP include, but
are not limited to: the removal of accumulated sediments; the installation, removal, and
maintenance of small water control structures, dikes, and berms, as well as discharges of
dredged or fill material to restore appropriate stream channel configurations after small water
control structures, dikes, and berms, are removed; the installation of current deflectors; the
enhancement, rehabilitation, or re-establishment of riffle and pool stream structure; the
placement of in -stream habitat structures; modifications of the stream bed and/or banks to
enhance, rehabilitate, or re-establish stream meanders; the removal of stream barriers, such as
undersized culverts, fords, and grade control structures; the backfilling of artificial channels;
the removal of existing drainage structures, such as drain tiles, and the filling, blocking, or
reshaping of drainage ditches to restore wetland hydrology; the installation of structures or
fills necessary to restore or enhance wetland or stream hydrology; the construction of small
nesting islands; the construction of open water areas; the construction of oyster habitat over
unvegetated bottom in tidal waters; shellfish seeding; activities needed to reestablish
vegetation, including plowing or discing for seed bed preparation and the planting of
appropriate wetland species; re-establishment of submerged aquatic vegetation in areas where
those plant communities previously existed; re-establishment of tidal wetlands in tidal waters
where those wetlands previously existed; mechanized land clearing to remove non-native
invasive, exotic, or nuisance vegetation; and other related activities. Only native plant species
should be planted at the site.
This NWP authorizes the relocation of non -tidal waters, including non -tidal wetlands
and streams, on the project site provided there are net increases in aquatic resource
functions and services.

Except for the relocation of non -tidal waters on the project site, this NWT does not
authorize the conversion of a stream or natural wetlands to another aquatic habitat type
(e.g., the conversion of a stream to wetland or vice versa) or uplands. Changes in wetland
plant communities that occur when wetland hydrology is more fully restored during
wetland rehabilitation activities are not considered a conversion to another aquatic habitat
type. This NWP does not authorize stream channelization. This NWP does not authorize
the relocation of tidal waters or the conversion of tidal waters, including tidal wetlands, to
other aquatic uses, such as the conversion of tidal wetlands into open water impoundments.
Compensatory mitigation is not required for activities authorized by this NWP since these
activities must result in net increases in aquatic resource functions and services.
Reversion. For enhancement, restoration, and establishment activities conducted: (1) In
accordance with the terms and conditions of a binding stream or wetland enhancement or
restoration agreement, or a wetland establishment agreement, between the landowner and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the Natural Resources Conservation Service
(MRCS), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS),
the National Ocean Service (NOS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), or their designated state
cooperating agencies; (2) as voluntary wetland restoration, enhancement, and establishment
actions documented by the NRCS or USDA Technical Service Provider pursuant to NRCS
Field Office Technical Guide standards; or (3) on reclaimed surface coal mine lands, in
accordance with a Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act permit issued by the Office
of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) or the applicable state agency,
this NWP also authorizes any future discharge of dredged or fill material associated with the
reversion of the area to its documented prior condition and use (i.e., prior to the restoration,
enhancement, or establishment activities). The reversion must occur within five years after
expiration of a limited term wetland restoration or establishment agreement or permit, and is
authorized in these circumstances even if the discharge occurs after this NWP expires. The
five-year reversion limit does not apply to agreements without time limits reached between
the landowner and the FWS, NRCS, FSA, NMFS, NOS, USFS, or an appropriate state
cooperating agency. This NWP also authorizes discharges of dredged or fill material in
waters of the United States for the reversion of wetlands that were restored, enhanced, or
established on prior -converted cropland or on uplands, in accordance with a binding
agreement between the landowner and NRCS, FSA, FWS, or their designated state
cooperating agencies (even though the restoration, enhancement, or establishment activity
did not require a section 404 permit). The prior condition will be documented in the original
agreement or permit, and the determination of return to prior conditions will be made by the
Federal agency or appropriate state agency executing the agreement or permit. Before
conducting any reversion activity the permittee or the appropriate Federal or state agency
must notify the district engineer and include the documentation of the prior condition. Once
an area has reverted to its prior physical condition, it will be subject to whatever the Corps
Regulatory requirements are applicable to that type of land at the time. The requirement that
the activity results in a net increase in aquatic resource functions and services does not apply
to reversion activities meeting the above conditions. Except for the activities described
above, this NWP does not authorize any future discharge of dredged or fill material
associated with the reversion of the area to its prior condition. In such cases a separate
permit would be required for any reversion.
2

Reporting_ For those activities that do not require pre -construction notification, the permittee
must submit to the district engineer a copy of. (1) The binding stream enhancement or
restoration agreement or wetland enhancement, restoration, or establishment agreement, or a
project description, including project plans and location map; (2) the NRCS or USDA Technical
Service Provider documentation for the voluntary stream enhancement or restoration action or
wetland restoration, enhancement, or establishment action; or (3) the SMCRA permit issued by
OSMRE or the applicable state agency. The report must also include information on baseline
ecological conditions on the project site, such as a delineation of wetlands, streams, and/or
other aquatic habitats. These documents must be submitted to the district engineer at least 30
days prior to commencing activities in waters of the United States authorized by this NWP.
Notification: The permittee must submit a pre -construction notification to the district engineer
prior to commencing any activity (see general condition 32), except for the following activities:
(1) Activities conducted on non -Federal public lands and private lands, in accordance
with the terms and conditions of a binding stream enhancement or restoration agreement or
wetland enhancement, restoration, or establishment agreement between the landowner and the
FWS, NRCS, FSA, NMFS, NOS, USFS or their designated state cooperating agencies;
(2) Voluntary stream or wetland restoration or enhancement action, or wetland
establishment action, documented by the NRCS or USDA Technical Service Provider
pursuant to NRCS Field Office Technical Guide standards; or
(3) The reclamation of surface coal mine lands, in accordance with an SMCRA
permit issued by the OSMRE or the applicable state agency.
However, the permittee must submit a copy of the appropriate documentation to the district
engineer to fulfill the reporting requirement. (Authorities: Sections 10 and 404)
Note: This NWP can be used to authorize compensatory mitigation projects, including
mitigation banks and in -lieu fee projects. However, this NWP does not authorize the reversion
of an area used for a compensatory mitigation project to its prior condition, since compensatory
mitigation is generally intended to be permanent.

NATIONWIDE PERMIT GENERAL CONDITIONS
The following General Conditions must be followed in order for any authorization by a NWP to
be valid:
1. Navi _ ag tion. (a) No activity may cause more than a minimal adverse effect on
navigation.
(b) Any safety lights and signals prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard, through
regulations or otherwise, must be installed and maintained at the permittee's expense on
authorized facilities in navigable waters of the United States.
(c) The permittee understands and agrees that, if future operations by the United
States require the removal, relocation, or other alteration, of the structure or work herein
authorized, or if, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Army or his authorized representative,
said structure or work shall cause unreasonable obstruction to the free navigation of the
navigable waters, the permittee will be required, upon due notice from the Corps of Engineers,
to remove, relocate, or alter the structural work or obstructions caused thereby, without expense
to the United States. No claim shall be made against the United States on account of any such
removal or alteration.
2. Aquatic Life Movements. No activity may substantially disrupt the necessary life
cycle movements of those species of aquatic life indigenous to the waterbody, including those
species that normally migrate through the area, unless the activity's primary purpose is to
impound water. All permanent and temporary crossings of waterbodies shall be suitably
culverted, bridged, or otherwise designed and constructed to maintain low flows to sustain the
movement of those aquatic species. If a bottomless culvert cannot be used, then the crossing
should be designed and constructed to minimize adverse effects to aquatic life movements.
3. Spawning. Activities in spawning areas during spawning seasons must
be avoided to the maximum extent practicable. Activities that result in the physical
destruction (e.g., through excavation, fill, or downstream smothering by substantial turbidity)
of an important spawning area are not authorized.
4. Mi rg atory Bird Breeding Areas. Activities in waters of the United States that
serve as breeding areas for migratory birds must be avoided to the maximum extent
practicable.
5. Shellfish Beds. No activity may occur in areas of concentrated shellfish
populations, unless the activity is directly related to a shellfish harvesting activity
authorized by NWPs 4 and 48, or is a shellfish seeding or habitat restoration activity
authorized by NWP 27.
6. Suitable Material. No activity may use unsuitable material (e.g., trash, debris,
car bodies, asphalt, etc.). Material used for construction or discharged must be free from toxic
pollutants in toxic amounts (see section 307 of the Clean Water Act).
2

7. Water Supply Intakes. No activity may occur in the proximity of a public water
supply intake, except where the activity is for the repair or improvement of public water supply
intake structures or adjacent bank stabilization.
8. Adverse Effects From Impoundments. If the activity creates an impoundment
of water, adverse effects to the aquatic system due to accelerating the passage of water,
and/or restricting its flow must be minimized to the maximum extent practicable.
9. Management of Water Flows. To the maximum extent practicable, the pre -
construction course, condition, capacity, and location of open waters must be maintained for
each activity, including stream channelization, storm water management activities, and
temporary and permanent road crossings, except as provided below. The activity must be
constructed to withstand expected high flows. The activity must not restrict or impede the
passage of normal or high flows, unless the primary purpose of the activity is to impound water
or manage high flows. The activity may alter the pre -construction course, condition, capacity,
and location of open waters if it benefits the aquatic environment (e.g., stream restoration or
relocation activities).
10. Fills Within 100-Year Floodplains. The activity must comply with applicable
FEMA-approved state or local floodplain management requirements.
11. Equipment. Heavy equipment working in wetlands or mudflats must be placed
on mats, or other measures must be taken to minimize soil disturbance.
12. Soil Erosion and Sediment Controls. Appropriate soil erosion and sediment
controls must be used and maintained in effective operating condition during construction, and
all exposed soil and other fills, as well as any work below the ordinary high water mark or
high tide line, must be permanently stabilized at the earliest practicable date. Permittees are
encouraged to perform work within waters of the United States during periods of low -flow or
no -flow, or during low tides.
13. Removal of Temporary Fills. Temporary fills must be removed in their entirety
and the affected areas returned to pre -construction elevations. The affected areas must be
revegetated, as appropriate.
14. Proper Maintenance. Any authorized structure or fill shall be properly
maintained, including maintenance to ensure public safety and compliance with applicable
NWP general conditions, as well as any activity -specific conditions added by the district
engineer to an NWP authorization.
15. Single and Complete Project. The activity must be a single and complete
project. The same NWP cannot be used more than once for the same single and complete
project.
16. Wild and Scenic Rivers. (a) No NWP activity may occur in a component of
the National Wild and Scenic River System, or in a river officially designated by Congress as a
"study river" for possible inclusion in the system while the river is in an official study status,
5

unless the appropriate Federal agency with direct management responsibility for such river,
has determined in writing that the proposed activity will not adversely affect the Wild and
Scenic River designation or study status.
(b) If a proposed NWP activity will occur in a component of the National Wild and
Scenic River System, or in a river officially designated by Congress as a "study river" for
possible inclusion in the system while the river is in an official study status, the permittee must
submit a pre -construction notification (see general condition 32). The district engineer will
coordinate the PCN with the Federal agency with direct management responsibility for that
river. The permittee shall not begin the NWP activity until notified by the district engineer that
the Federal agency with direct management responsibility for that river has determined in
writing that the proposed NWP activity will not adversely affect the Wild and Scenic River
designation or study status.
(c) Information on Wild and Scenic Rivers may be obtained from the appropriate
Federal land management agency responsible for the designated Wild and Scenic River or
study river (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Information on these rivers is also available at:
http://www.rivers.gov/.
17. Tribal Rights. No NWP activity may cause more than minimal adverse effects
on tribal rights (including treaty rights), protected tribal resources, or tribal lands.
18. Endan-er�pecies. (a) No activity is authorized under any NWP which is
likely to directly or indirectly jeopardize the continued existence of a threatened or endangered
species or a species proposed for such designation, as identified under the Federal Endangered
Species Act (ESA), or which will directly or indirectly destroy or adversely modify the critical
habitat of such species. No activity is authorized under any NWP which "may affect" a listed
species or critical habitat, unless ESA section 7 consultation addressing the effects of the
proposed activity has been completed. Direct effects are the immediate effects on listed species
and critical habitat caused by the NWP activity. Indirect effects are those effects on listed
species and critical habitat that are caused by the NWP activity and are later in time, but still
are reasonably certain to occur.
(b) Federal agencies should follow their own procedures for complying with the
requirements of the ESA. If pre -construction notification is required for the proposed activity,
the Federal permittee must provide the district engineer with the appropriate documentation to
demonstrate compliance with those requirements. The district engineer will verify that the
appropriate documentation has been submitted. If the appropriate documentation has not been
submitted, additional ESA section 7 consultation may be necessary for the activity and the
respective federal agency would be responsible for fulfilling its obligation under section 7 of
the ESA.
(c) Non-federal permittees must submit a pre -construction notification to the
district engineer if any listed species or designated critical habitat might be affected or is in the
vicinity of the activity, or if the activity is located in designated critical habitat, and shall not
begin work on the activity until notified by the district engineer that the requirements of the
ESA have been satisfied and that the activity is authorized. For activities that might affect
Federally -listed endangered or threatened species or designated critical habitat, the pre -
construction notification must include the name(s) of the endangered or threatened species that
IN

might be affected by the proposed activity or that utilize the designated critical habitat that
might be affected by the proposed activity. The district engineer will determine whether the
proposed activity "may affect" or will have "no effect" to listed species and designated critical
habitat and will notify the non- Federal applicant of the Corps' determination within 45 days of
receipt of a complete pre- construction notification. In cases where the non -Federal applicant
has identified listed species or critical habitat that might be affected or is in the vicinity of the
activity, and has so notified the Corps, the applicant shall not begin work until the Corps has
provided notification that the proposed activity will have "no effect" on listed species or critical
habitat, or until ESA section 7 consultation has been completed. If the non -Federal applicant has
not heard back from the Corps within 45 days, the applicant must still wait for notification from
the Corps.
(d) As a result of formal or informal consultation with the FWS or NMFS the
district engineer may add species -specific permit conditions to the NWPs.
(e) Authorization of an activity by an NWP does not authorize the "take" of a
threatened or endangered species as defined under the ESA. In the absence of separate
authorization (e.g., an ESA Section 10 Permit, a Biological Opinion with "incidental take"
provisions, etc.) from the FWS or the NMFS, the Endangered Species Act prohibits any person
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to take a listed species, where "take" means to
harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage
in any such conduct. The word "harm" in the definition of "take" means an act which actually
kills or injures wildlife. Such an act may include significant habitat modification or degradation
where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral
patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering.
(f) If the non-federal permittee has a valid ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take
permit with an approved Habitat Conservation Plan for a project or a group of projects that
includes the proposed NWP activity, the non-federal applicant should provide a copy of that
ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit with the PCN required by paragraph (c) of this general
condition. The district engineer will coordinate with the agency that issued the ESA section
10(a)(1)(B) permit to determine whether the proposed NWP activity and the associated
incidental take were considered in the internal ESA section 7 consultation conducted for the
ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit. If that coordination results in concurrence from the agency
that the proposed NWP activity and the associated incidental take were considered in the
internal ESA section 7 consultation for the ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit, the district
engineer does not need to conduct a separate ESA section 7 consultation for the proposed NWP
activity. The district engineer will notify the non-federal applicant within 45 days of receipt of
a complete pre -construction notification whether the ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit covers the
proposed NWP activity or whether additional ESA section 7 consultation is required.
(g) Information on the location of threatened and endangered species and their
critical habitat can be obtained directly from the offices of the FWS and NMFS or their world
wide web pages at http://www.fws.gov/ or http://www.fws.gov/ipac and
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/esa/ respectively.
19. Mi rg atory Birds and Bald and Golden Eagles. The permittee is responsible for
ensuring their action complies with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden
Eagle Protection Act. The permittee is responsible for contacting appropriate local office of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine applicable measures to reduce impacts to migratory
7

birds or eagles, including whether "incidental take" permits are necessary and available under
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for a particular
activity.
20. Historic Properties. (a) In cases where the district engineer determines that the
activity may have the potential to cause effects to properties listed, or eligible for listing, in the
National Register of Historic Places, the activity is not authorized, until the requirements of
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) have been satisfied.
(b) Federal permittees should follow their own procedures for complying with the
requirements of section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. If pre -construction
notification is required for the proposed NWP activity, the Federal permittee must provide the
district engineer with the appropriate documentation to demonstrate compliance with those
requirements. The district engineer will verify that the appropriate documentation has been
submitted. If the appropriate documentation is not submitted, then additional consultation
under section 106 may be necessary. The respective federal agency is responsible for fulfilling
its obligation to comply with section 106.
(c) Non-federal permittees must submit a pre -construction notification to the
district engineer if the NWP activity might have the potential to cause effects to any historic
properties listed on, determined to be eligible for listing on, or potentially eligible for listing on
the National Register of Historic Places, including previously unidentified properties. For such
activities, the pre -construction notification must state which historic properties might have the
potential to be affected by the proposed NWP activity or include a vicinity map indicating the
location of the historic properties or the potential for the presence of historic properties.
Assistance regarding information on the location of, or potential for, the presence of historic
properties can be sought from the State Historic Preservation Officer, Tribal Historic
Preservation Officer, or designated tribal representative, as appropriate, and the National
Register of Historic Places (see 33 CFR 330.4(g)). When reviewing pre -construction
notifications, district engineers will comply with the current procedures for addressing the
requirements of section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The district engineer
shall make a reasonable and good faith effort to carry out appropriate identification efforts,
which may include background research, consultation, oral history interviews, sample field
investigation, and field survey. Based on the information submitted in the PCN and these
identification efforts, the district engineer shall determine whether the proposed NWP activity
has the potential to cause effects on the historic properties. Section 106 consultation is not
required when the district engineer determines that the activity does not have the potential to
cause effects on historic properties (see 36 CFR 800.3(a)). Section 106 consultation is required
when the district engineer determines that the activity has the potential to cause effects on
historic properties. The district engineer will conduct consultation with consulting parties
identified under 36 CFR 800.2(c) when he or she makes any of the following effect
determinations for the purposes of section 106 of the NHPA: no historic properties affected, no
adverse effect, or adverse effect. Where the non -Federal applicant has identified historic
properties on which the activity might have the potential to cause effects and so notified the
Corps, the non -Federal applicant shall not begin the activity until notified by the district
engineer either that the activity has no potential to cause effects to historic properties or that
NHPA section 106 consultation has been completed.
N.

(d) For non-federal permittees, the district engineer will notify the prospective
permittee within 45 days of receipt of a complete pre -construction notification whether NHPA
section 106 consultation is required. If NHPA section 106 consultation is required, the district
engineer will notify the non -Federal applicant that he or she cannot begin the activity until
section 106 consultation is completed. If the non -Federal applicant has not heard back from the
Corps within 45 days, the applicant must still wait for notification from the Corps.
(e) Prospective permittees should be aware that section 110k of the NHPA (54
U.S.C. 306113) prevents the Corps from granting a permit or other assistance to an applicant
who, with intent to avoid the requirements of section 106 of the NHPA, has intentionally
significantly adversely affected a historic property to which the permit would relate, or having
legal power to prevent it, allowed such significant adverse effect to occur, unless the Corps,
after consultation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), determines that
circumstances justify granting such assistance despite the adverse effect created or permitted
by the applicant. If circumstances justify granting the assistance, the Corps is required to
notify the ACHP and provide documentation specifying the circumstances, the degree of
damage to the integrity of any historic properties affected, and proposed mitigation. This
documentation must include any views obtained from the applicant, SHPO/THPO, appropriate
Indian tribes if the undertaking occurs on or affects historic properties on tribal lands or affects
properties of interest to those tribes, and other parties known to have a legitimate interest in the
impacts to the permitted activity on historic properties.
21. Discovery of Previously Unknown Remains and Artifacts. If you discover
any previously unknown historic, cultural or archeological remains and artifacts while
accomplishing the activity authorized by this permit, you must immediately notify the district
engineer of what you have found, and to the maximum extent practicable, avoid construction
activities that may affect the remains and artifacts until the required coordination has been
completed. The district engineer will initiate the Federal, Tribal, and state coordination
required to determine if the items or remains warrant a recovery effort or if the site is eligible
for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
22. Designated Critical Resource Waters. Critical resource waters include, NOAA-
managed marine sanctuaries and marine monuments, and National Estuarine Research
Reserves. The district engineer may designate, after notice and opportunity for public
comment, additional waters officially designated by a state as having particular environmental
or ecological significance, such as outstanding national resource waters or state natural
heritage sites. The district engineer may also designate additional critical resource waters after
notice and opportunity for public comment.
(a) Discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States are not
authorized by NWPs 7, 12, 14, 16, 17, 21, 29, 31, 35, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 49, 50, 51, and 52 for
any activity within, or directly affecting, critical resource waters, including wetlands adjacent
to such waters.
(b) For NWPs 3, 8, 10, 13, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, and
54, notification is required in accordance with general condition 32, for any activity proposed in
the designated critical resource waters including wetlands adjacent to those waters. The district
engineer may authorize activities under these NWPs only after it is determined that the impacts
to the critical resource waters will be no more than minimal.
9

23. Mitigation. The district engineer will consider the following factors when
determining appropriate and practicable mitigation necessary to ensure that the individual and
cumulative adverse environmental effects are no more than minimal:
(a) The activity must be designed and constructed to avoid and minimize adverse
effects, both temporary and permanent, to waters of the United States to the maximum extent
practicable at the project site (i.e., on site).
(b) Mitigation in all its forms (avoiding, minimizing, rectifying, reducing, or
compensating for resource losses) will be required to the extent necessary to ensure that the
individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects are no more than minimal.
(c) Compensatory mitigation at a minimum one -for -one ratio will be required for
all wetland losses that exceed 1/10-acre and require pre -construction notification, unless the
district engineer determines in writing that either some other form of mitigation would be
more environmentally appropriate or the adverse environmental effects of the proposed
activity are no more than minimal, and provides an activity -specific waiver of this
requirement. For wetland losses of 1/10-acre or less that require pre -construction notification,
the district engineer may determine on a case -by -case basis that compensatory mitigation is
required to ensure that the activity results in only minimal adverse environmental effects.
(d) For losses of streams or other open waters that require pre -construction
notification, the district engineer may require compensatory mitigation to ensure that the
activity results in no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. Compensatory
mitigation for losses of streams should be provided, if practicable, through stream
rehabilitation, enhancement, or preservation, since streams are difficult -to -replace resources
(see 33 CFR 332.3(e)(3)).
(e) Compensatory mitigation plans for NWP activities in or near streams or other
open waters will normally include a requirement for the restoration or enhancement,
maintenance, and legal protection (e.g., conservation easements) of riparian areas next to open
waters. In some cases, the restoration or maintenance/protection of riparian areas may be the
only compensatory mitigation required. Restored riparian areas should consist of native
species. The width of the required riparian area will address documented water quality or
aquatic habitat loss concerns. Normally, the riparian area will be 25 to 50 feet wide on each
side of the stream, but the district engineer may require slightly wider riparian areas to address
documented water quality or habitat loss concerns. If it is not possible to restore or
maintain/protect a riparian area on both sides of a stream, or if the waterbody is a lake or
coastal waters, then restoring or maintaining/protecting a riparian area along a single bank or
shoreline may be sufficient. Where both wetlands and open waters exist on the project site, the
district engineer will determine the appropriate compensatory mitigation (e.g., riparian areas
and/or wetlands compensation) based on what is best for the aquatic environment on a
watershed basis. In cases where riparian areas are determined to be the most appropriate form
of minimization or compensatory mitigation, the district engineer may waive or reduce the
requirement to provide wetland compensatory mitigation for wetland losses.
(f) Compensatory mitigation projects provided to offset losses of aquatic
resources must comply with the applicable provisions of 33 CFR part 332.
(1) The prospective permittee is responsible for proposing an appropriate
compensatory mitigation option if compensatory mitigation is necessary to ensure that the
activity results in no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. For the NWPs, the
preferred mechanism for providing compensatory mitigation is mitigation bank credits or in-
10

lieu fee program credits (see 33 CFR 332.3(b)(2) and (3)). However, if an appropriate number
and type of mitigation bank or in -lieu credits are not available at the time the PCN is submitted
to the district engineer, the district engineer may approve the use of permittee-responsible
mitigation.
(2) The amount of compensatory mitigation required by the district engineer must
be sufficient to ensure that the authorized activity results in no more than minimal individual
and cumulative adverse environmental effects (see 33 CFR 330.1(e)(3)). (See also 33 CFR
332.3(f)).
(3) Since the likelihood of success is greater and the impacts to potentially
valuable uplands are reduced, aquatic resource restoration should be the first
compensatory mitigation option considered for permittee-responsible mitigation.
(4) If permittee-responsible mitigation is the proposed option, the prospective
permittee is responsible for submitting a mitigation plan. A conceptual or detailed mitigation
plan may be used by the district engineer to make the decision on the NWT verification request,
but a final mitigation plan that addresses the applicable requirements of 33 CFR 332.4(c)(2)
through (14) must be approved by the district engineer before the permittee begins work in
waters of the United States, unless the district engineer determines that prior approval of the
final mitigation plan is not practicable or not necessary to ensure timely completion of the
required compensatory mitigation (see 33 CFR 332.3(k)(3)).
(5) If mitigation bank or in -lieu fee program credits are the proposed option, the
mitigation plan only needs to address the baseline conditions at the impact site and the
number of credits to be provided.
(6) Compensatory mitigation requirements (e.g., resource type and amount to be
provided as compensatory mitigation, site protection, ecological performance standards,
monitoring requirements) may be addressed through conditions added to the NWP
authorization, instead of components of a compensatory mitigation plan (see 33 CFR
332.4(c)(1)(ii)).
(g) Compensatory mitigation will not be used to increase the acreage losses
allowed by the acreage limits of the NWPs. For example, if an NWP has an acreage limit of
1/2-acre, it cannot be used to authorize any NWP activity resulting in the loss of greater than
1/2-acre of waters of the United States, even if compensatory mitigation is provided that
replaces or restores some of the lost waters. However, compensatory mitigation can and should
be used, as necessary, to ensure that an NWP activity already meeting the established acreage
limits also satisfies the no more than minimal impact requirement for the NWPs.
(h) Permittees may propose the use of mitigation banks, in -lieu fee programs, or
permittee-responsible mitigation. When developing a compensatory mitigation proposal, the
permittee must consider appropriate and practicable options consistent with the framework at
33 CFR 332.3(b). For activities resulting in the loss of marine or estuarine resources,
permittee-responsible mitigation may be environmentally preferable if there are no mitigation
banks or in -lieu fee programs in the area that have marine or estuarine credits available for
sale or transfer to the permittee. For permittee-responsible mitigation, the special conditions of
the NWP verification must clearly indicate the party or parties responsible for the
implementation and performance of the compensatory mitigation project, and, if required, its
long-term management.
(i) Where certain functions and services of waters of the United States are
permanently adversely affected by a regulated activity, such as discharges of dredged or fill
11

material into waters of the United States that will convert a forested or scrub -shrub wetland to
a herbaceous wetland in a permanently maintained utility line right-of-way, mitigation may be
required to reduce the adverse environmental effects of the activity to the no more than
minimal level.
24. Safety of IMpoundment Structures. To ensure that all impoundment structures
are safely designed, the district engineer may require non -Federal applicants to demonstrate that
the structures comply with established state dam safety criteria or have been designed by
qualified persons. The district engineer may also require documentation that the design has
been independently reviewed by similarly qualified persons, and appropriate modifications
made to ensure safety.
25. Water Quality. Where States and authorized Tribes, or EPA where applicable,
have not previously certified compliance of an NWP with CWA section 401, individual 401
Water Quality Certification must be obtained or waived (see 33 CFR 330.4(c)). The district
engineer or State or Tribe may require additional water quality management measures to ensure
that the authorized activity does not result in more than minimal degradation of water quality.
26. Coastal Zone Mana eg ment. In coastal states where an NWP has not previously
received a state coastal zone management consistency concurrence, an individual state coastal
zone management consistency concurrence must be obtained, or a presumption of concurrence
must occur (see 33 CFR 330.4(d)). The district engineer or a State may require additional
measures to ensure that the authorized activity is consistent with state coastal zone management
requirements.
27. Regional and Case -By -Case Conditions. The activity must comply with any
regional conditions that may have been added by the Division Engineer (see 33 CFR 330.4(e))
and with any case specific conditions added by the Corps or by the state, Indian Tribe, or U.S.
EPA in its section 401 Water Quality Certification, or by the state in its Coastal Zone
Management Act consistency determination.
28. Use of Multiple Nationwide Permits. The use of more than one NWP for a
single and complete project is prohibited, except when the acreage loss of waters of the United
States authorized by the NWPs does not exceed the acreage limit of the NWP with the highest
specified acreage limit. For example, if a road crossing over tidal waters is constructed under
NWP 14, with associated bank stabilization authorized by NWP 13, the maximum acreage loss
of waters of the United States for the total project cannot exceed 1/3-acre.
29. Transfer of Nationwide Permit Verifications. If the permittee sells the property
associated with a nationwide permit verification, the permittee may transfer the nationwide
permit verification to the new owner by submitting a letter to the appropriate Corps district
office to validate the transfer. A copy of the nationwide permit verification must be attached to
the letter, and the letter must contain the following statement and signature:
"When the structures or work authorized by this nationwide permit are still in existence at the
time the property is transferred, the terms and conditions of this nationwide permit, including
any special conditions, will continue to be binding on the new owner(s) of the property. To
12

validate the transfer of this nationwide permit and the associated liabilities associated with
compliance with its terms and conditions, have the transferee sign and date below."
(Transferee)
(Date)
30. Compliance Certification. Each permittee who receives an NWP verification
letter from the Corps must provide a signed certification documenting completion of the
authorized activity and implementation of any required compensatory mitigation. The
success of any required permittee-responsible mitigation, including the achievement of
ecological performance standards, will be addressed separately by the district engineer. The
Corps will provide the permittee the certification document with the NWP verification letter.
The certification document will include:
(a) A statement that the authorized activity was done in accordance with the NWP
authorization, including any general, regional, or activity -specific conditions;
(b) A statement that the implementation of any required compensatory mitigation
was completed in accordance with the permit conditions. If credits from a mitigation bank or
in -lieu fee program are used to satisfy the compensatory mitigation requirements, the
certification must include the documentation required by 33 CFR 332.3(1)(3) to confirm that
the permittee secured the appropriate number and resource type of credits; and
(c) The signature of the permittee certifying the completion of the activity and
mitigation.
The completed certification document must be submitted to the district engineer
within 30 days of completion of the authorized activity or the implementation of any required
compensatory mitigation, whichever occurs later.
31. Activities Affecting Structures or Works Built by the United States. If an NWP
activity also requires permission from the Corps pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 408 because it will alter
or temporarily or permanently occupy or use a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE)
federally authorized Civil Works project (a "USACE project"), the prospective permittee must
submit a pre -construction notification. See paragraph (b)(10) of general condition 32. An
activity that requires section 408 permission is not authorized by NWP until the appropriate
Corps office issues the section 408 permission to alter, occupy, or use the USACE project, and
the district engineer issues a written NWP verification.
32. Pre -Construction Notification. (a) Timing. Where required by the terms of the
NWP, the prospective permittee must notify the district engineer by submitting a pre -
construction notification (PCN) as early as possible. The district engineer must determine if the
PCN is complete within 30 calendar days of the date of receipt and, if the PCN is determined to
be incomplete, notify the prospective permittee within that 30 day period to request the
additional information necessary to make the PCN complete. The request must specify the
information needed to make the PCN complete. As a general rule, district engineers will request
additional information necessary to make the PCN complete only once. However, if the
13

prospective permittee does not provide all of the requested information, then the district
engineer will notify the prospective permittee that the PCN is still incomplete and the PCN
review process will not commence until all of the requested information has been received by
the district engineer. The prospective permittee shall not begin the activity until either:
(1) He or she is notified in writing by the district engineer that the activity may
proceed under the NWT with any special conditions imposed by the district or division
engineer; or
(2) 45 calendar days have passed from the district engineer's receipt of the
complete PCN and the prospective permittee has not received written notice from the district or
division engineer. However, if the permittee was required to notify the Corps pursuant to
general condition 18 that listed species or critical habitat might be affected or are in the vicinity
of the activity, or to notify the Corps pursuant to general condition 20 that the activity might
have the potential to cause effects to historic properties, the permittee cannot begin the activity
until receiving written notification from the Corps that there is "no effect" on listed species or
"no potential to cause effects" on historic properties, or that any consultation required under
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (see 33 CFR 330.4(f)) and/or section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act (see 33 CFR 330.4(g)) has been completed. Also, work
cannot begin under NWPs 21, 49, or 50 until the permittee has received written approval from
the Corps. If the proposed activity requires a written waiver to exceed specified limits of an
NWT, the permittee may not begin the activity until the district engineer issues the waiver. If
the district or division engineer notifies the permittee in writing that an individual permit is
required within 45 calendar days of receipt of a complete PCN, the permittee cannot begin the
activity until an individual permit has been obtained. Subsequently, the permittee's right to
proceed under the NWP may be modified, suspended, or revoked only in accordance with the
procedure set forth in 33 CFR 330.5(d)(2).
(b) Contents of Pre -Construction Notification: The PCN must be in writing and
include the following information:
(1) Name, address and telephone numbers of the prospective permittee;
(2) Location of the proposed activity;
(3) Identify the specific NWP or NWP(s) the prospective permittee wants to use
to authorize the proposed activity;
(4) A description of the proposed activity; the activity's purpose; direct and indirect
adverse environmental effects the activity would cause, including the anticipated amount of loss
of wetlands, other special aquatic sites, and other waters expected to result from the NWP
activity, in acres, linear feet, or other appropriate unit of measure; a description of any proposed
mitigation measures intended to reduce the adverse environmental effects caused by the
proposed activity; and any other NWP(s), regional general permit(s), or individual permit(s)
used or intended to be used to authorize any part of the proposed project or any related activity,
including other separate and distant crossings for linear projects that require Department of the
Army authorization but do not require pre -construction notification. The description of the
proposed activity and any proposed mitigation measures should be sufficiently detailed to allow
the district engineer to determine that the adverse environmental effects of the activity will be
no more than minimal and to determine the need for compensatory mitigation or other
mitigation measures. For single and complete linear projects, the PCN must include the
quantity of anticipated losses of wetlands, other special aquatic sites, and other waters for each
single and complete crossing of those wetlands, other special aquatic sites, and other waters.
14

Sketches should be provided when necessary to show that the activity complies with the terms
of the NWP. (Sketches usually clarify the activity and when provided results in a quicker
decision. Sketches should contain sufficient detail to provide an illustrative description of the
proposed activity (e.g., a conceptual plan), but do not need to be detailed engineering plans);
(5) The PCN must include a delineation of wetlands, other special aquatic sites,
and other waters, such as lakes and ponds, and perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral streams,
on the project site. Wetland delineations must be prepared in accordance with the current
method required by the Corps. The permittee may ask the Corps to delineate the special
aquatic sites and other waters on the project site, but there may be a delay if the Corps does
the delineation, especially if the project site is large or contains many wetlands, other special
aquatic sites, and other waters. Furthermore, the 45 day period will not start until the
delineation has been submitted to or completed by the Corps, as appropriate;
(6) If the proposed activity will result in the loss of greater than 1/10-acre of
wetlands and a PCN is required, the prospective permittee must submit a statement
describing how the mitigation requirement will be satisfied, or explaining why the
adverse environmental effects are no more than minimal and why compensatory
mitigation should not be required. As an alternative, the prospective permittee may submit
a conceptual or detailed mitigation plan.
(7) For non -Federal permittees, if any listed species or designated critical habitat
might be affected or is in the vicinity of the activity, or if the activity is located in designated
critical habitat, the PCN must include the name(s) of those endangered or threatened species
that might be affected by the proposed activity or utilize the designated critical habitat that
might be affected by the proposed activity. For NWP activities that require pre -construction
notification, Federal permittees must provide documentation demonstrating compliance with
the Endangered Species Act;
(8) For non -Federal permittees, if the NWP activity might have the potential to
cause effects to a historic property listed on, determined to be eligible for listing on, or
potentially eligible for listing on, the National Register of Historic Places, the PCN must state
which historic property might have the potential to be affected by the proposed activity or
include a vicinity map indicating the location of the historic property. For NWP activities that
require pre -construction notification, Federal permittees must provide documentation
demonstrating compliance with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act;
(9) For an activity that will occur in a component of the National Wild and Scenic
River System, or in a river officially designated by Congress as a "study river" for possible
inclusion in the system while the river is in an official study status, the PCN must identify the
Wild and Scenic River or the "study river" (see general condition 16); and
(10) For an activity that requires permission from the Corps pursuant to 33 U.S.C.
408 because it will alter or temporarily or permanently occupy or use a U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers federally authorized civil works project, the pre -construction notification must
include a statement confirming that the project proponent has submitted a written request for
section 408 permission from the Corps office having jurisdiction over that USACE project.
(c) Form of Pre -Construction Notification: The standard individual permit
application form (Form ENG 4345) may be used, but the completed application form must
clearly indicate that it is an NWP PCN and must include all of the applicable information
required in paragraphs (b)(1) through (10) of this general condition. A letter containing the
required information may also be used. Applicants may provide electronic files of PCNs and
15

supporting materials if the district engineer has established tools and procedures for electronic
submittals.
(d) Agency Coordination: (1) The district engineer will consider any comments
from Federal and state agencies concerning the proposed activity's compliance with the terms
and conditions of the NWPs and the need for mitigation to reduce the activity's adverse
environmental effects so that they are no more than minimal.
(2) Agency coordination is required for: (i) all NWP activities that require pre -
construction notification and result in the loss of greater than 1/2-acre of waters of the United
States; (ii) NWP 21, 29, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 50, 51, and 52 activities that require pre -
construction notification and will result in the loss of greater than 300 linear feet of stream
bed; (iii) NWP 13 activities in excess of 500 linear feet, fills greater than one cubic yard per
running foot, or involve discharges of dredged or fill material into special aquatic sites; and
(iv) NWP 54 activities in excess of 500 linear feet, or that extend into the waterbody more than
30 feet from the mean low water line in tidal waters or the ordinary high water mark in the
Great Lakes.
(3) When agency coordination is required, the district engineer will immediately
provide (e.g., via e-mail, facsimile transmission, overnight mail, or other expeditious manner) a
copy of the complete PCN to the appropriate Federal or state offices (FWS, state natural
resource or water quality agency, EPA, and, if appropriate, the NMFS). With the exception of
NWP 37, these agencies will have 10 calendar days from the date the material is transmitted to
notify the district engineer via telephone, facsimile transmission, or e-mail that they intend to
provide substantive, site -specific comments. The comments must explain why the agency
believes the adverse environmental effects will be more than minimal. If so contacted by an
agency, the district engineer will wait an additional 15 calendar days before making a decision
on the pre -construction notification. The district engineer will fully consider agency comments
received within the specified time frame concerning the proposed activity's compliance with
the terms and conditions of the NWPs, including the need for mitigation to ensure the net
adverse environmental effects of the proposed activity are no more than minimal. The district
engineer will provide no response to the resource agency, except as provided below. The
district engineer will indicate in the administrative record associated with each pre -construction
notification that the resource agencies' concerns were considered. For NWP 37, the emergency
watershed protection and rehabilitation activity may proceed immediately in cases where there
is an unacceptable hazard to life or a significant loss of property or economic hardship will
occur. The district engineer will consider any comments received to decide whether the NWP
37 authorization should be modified, suspended, or revoked in accordance with the procedures
at 33 CFR 330.5.
(4) In cases of where the prospective permittee is not a Federal agency, the district
engineer will provide a response to NMFS within 30 calendar days of receipt of any Essential
Fish Habitat conservation recommendations, as required by section 305(b)(4)(B) of the
Magnuson -Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
(5) Applicants are encouraged to provide the Corps with either electronic files or
multiple copies of pre -construction notifications to expedite agency coordination.
DISTRICT ENGINEER'S DECISION
1. In reviewing the PCN for the proposed activity, the district engineer will
determine whether the activity authorized by the NWP will result in more than minimal
16

individual or cumulative adverse environmental effects or may be contrary to the public
interest. If a project proponent requests authorization by a specific NWP, the district engineer
should issue the NWP verification for that activity if it meets the terms and conditions of that
NWP, unless he or she determines, after considering mitigation, that the proposed activity will
result in more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse effects on the aquatic
environment and other aspects of the public interest and exercises discretionary authority to
require an individual permit for the proposed activity. For a linear project, this determination
will include an evaluation of the individual crossings of waters of the United States to
determine whether they individually satisfy the terms and conditions of the NWP(s), as well as
the cumulative effects caused by all of the crossings authorized by NWP. If an applicant
requests a waiver of the 300 linear foot limit on impacts to streams or of an otherwise
applicable limit, as provided for in NWPs 13, 21, 29, 36, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 50, 51, 52, or 54,
the district engineer will only grant the waiver upon a written determination that the NWP
activity will result in only minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects.
For those NWPs that have a waivable 300 linear foot limit for losses of intermittent and
ephemeral stream bed and a 1/2-acre limit (i.e., NWPs 21, 29, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 50, 51, and
52), the loss of intermittent and ephemeral stream bed, plus any other losses of jurisdictional
waters and wetlands, cannot exceed 1/2-acre.
2. When making minimal adverse environmental effects determinations the district
engineer will consider the direct and indirect effects caused by the NWP activity. He or she
will also consider the cumulative adverse environmental effects caused by activities authorized
by NWP and whether those cumulative adverse environmental effects are no more than
minimal. The district engineer will also consider site specific factors, such as the
environmental setting in the vicinity of the NWP activity, the type of resource that will be
affected by the NWP activity, the functions provided by the aquatic resources that will be
affected by the NWP activity, the degree or magnitude to which the aquatic resources perform
those functions, the extent that aquatic resource functions will be lost as a result of the NWP
activity (e.g., partial or complete loss), the duration of the adverse effects (temporary or
permanent), the importance of the aquatic resource functions to the region (e.g., watershed or
ecoregion), and mitigation required by the district engineer. If an appropriate functional or
condition assessment method is available and practicable to use, that assessment method may
be used by the district engineer to assist in the minimal adverse environmental effects
determination. The district engineer may add case -specific special conditions to the NWP
authorization to address site- specific environmental concerns.
3. If the proposed activity requires a PCN and will result in a loss of greater than
1/10-acre of wetlands, the prospective permittee should submit a mitigation proposal with the
PCN. Applicants may also propose compensatory mitigation for NWP activities with smaller
impacts, or for impacts to other types of waters (e.g., streams). The district engineer will
consider any proposed compensatory mitigation or other mitigation measures the applicant has
included in the proposal in determining whether the net adverse environmental effects of the
proposed activity are no more than minimal. The compensatory mitigation proposal may be
either conceptual or detailed. If the district engineer determines that the activity complies with
the terms and conditions of the NWP and that the adverse environmental effects are no more
than minimal, after considering mitigation, the district engineer will notify the permittee and
17

include any activity -specific conditions in the NWP verification the district engineer deems
necessary. Conditions for compensatory mitigation requirements must comply with the
appropriate provisions at 33 CFR 332.3(k). The district engineer must approve the final
mitigation plan before the permittee commences work in waters of the United States, unless the
district engineer determines that prior approval of the final mitigation plan is not practicable or
not necessary to ensure timely completion of the required compensatory mitigation. If the
prospective permittee elects to submit a compensatory mitigation plan with the PCN, the district
engineer will expeditiously review the proposed compensatory mitigation plan. The district
engineer must review the proposed compensatory mitigation plan within 45 calendar days of
receiving a complete PCN and determine whether the proposed mitigation would ensure the
NWP activity results in no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. If the net adverse
environmental effects of the NWP activity (after consideration of the mitigation proposal) are
determined by the district engineer to be no more than minimal, the district engineer will
provide a timely written response to the applicant. The response will state that the NWP activity
can proceed under the terms and conditions of the NWP, including any activity -specific
conditions added to the NWP authorization by the district engineer.
4. If the district engineer determines that the adverse environmental effects of the
proposed activity are more than minimal, then the district engineer will notify the applicant
either: (a) that the activity does not qualify for authorization under the NWP and instruct the
applicant on the procedures to seek authorization under an individual permit; (b) that the
activity is authorized under the NWP subject to the applicant's submission of a mitigation plan
that would reduce the adverse environmental effects so that they are no more than minimal; or
(c) that the activity is authorized under the NWP with specific modifications or conditions.
Where the district engineer determines that mitigation is required to ensure no more than
minimal adverse environmental effects, the activity will be authorized within the 45-day PCN
period (unless additional time is required to comply with general conditions 18, 20, and/or 31,
or to evaluate PCNs for activities authorized by NWPs 21, 49, and 50), with activity -specific
conditions that state the mitigation requirements. The authorization will include the necessary
conceptual or detailed mitigation plan or a requirement that the applicant submit a mitigation
plan that would reduce the adverse environmental effects so that they are no more than
minimal. When compensatory mitigation is required, no work in waters of the United States
may occur until the district engineer has approved a specific mitigation plan or has determined
that prior approval of a final mitigation plan is not practicable or not necessary to ensure timely
completion of the required compensatory mitigation.
FURTHER INFORMATION
1. District Engineers have authority to determine if an activity complies with the
terms and conditions of an NWP.
2. NWPs do not obviate the need to obtain other federal, state, or local permits,
approvals, or authorizations required by law.
3. NWPs do not grant any property rights or exclusive privileges.
4. NWPs do not authorize any injury to the property or rights of others.
5. NWPs do not authorize interference with any existing or proposed Federal
project (see general condition 31).
In

DEFINITIONS
Best management practices (BMPs): Policies, practices, procedures, or structures
implemented to mitigate the adverse environmental effects on surface water quality resulting
from development. BMPs are categorized as structural or non-structural.
Compensatory mitigation: _ The restoration (re-establishment or rehabilitation),
establishment (creation), enhancement, and/or in certain circumstances preservation of aquatic
resources for the purposes of offsetting unavoidable adverse impacts which remain after all
appropriate and practicable avoidance and minimization has been achieved.
Currently serviceable: Useable as is or with some maintenance, but not so degraded
as to essentially require reconstruction.
Direct effects: Effects that are caused by the activity and occur at the same time and
place.
Discharge: The term "discharge" means any discharge of dredged or fill material
into waters of the United States.
Ecological reference: A model used to plan and design an aquatic habitat and
riparian area restoration, enhancement, or establishment activity under NWP 27. An ecological
reference may be based on the structure, functions, and dynamics of an aquatic habitat type or a
riparian area type that currently exists in the region where the proposed NWP 27 activity is
located. Alternatively, an ecological reference may be based on a conceptual model for the
aquatic habitat type or riparian area type to be restored, enhanced, or established as a result of
the proposed NWP 27 activity. An ecological reference takes into account the range of
variation of the aquatic habitat type or riparian area type in the region.
Enhancement: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of an aquatic resource to heighten, intensify, or improve a specific aquatic
resource function(s). Enhancement results in the gain of selected aquatic resource function(s),
but may also lead to a decline in other aquatic resource function(s). Enhancement does not
result in a gain in aquatic resource area.
Ephemeral stream: An ephemeral stream has flowing water only during, and for a
short duration after, precipitation events in a typical year. Ephemeral stream beds are located
above the water table year-round. Groundwater is not a source of water for the stream. Runoff
from rainfall is the primary source of water for stream flow.
Establishment (creation): The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics present to develop an aquatic resource that did not previously exist at an upland
site. Establishment results in a gain in aquatic resource area.
High Tide Line: The line of intersection of the land with the water's surface at the
maximum height reached by a rising tide. The high tide line may be determined, in the absence
of actual data, by a line of oil or scum along shore objects, a more or less continuous deposit of
fine shell or debris on the foreshore or berm, other physical markings or characteristics,
vegetation lines, tidal gages, or other suitable means that delineate the general height reached
by a rising tide. The line encompasses spring high tides and other high tides that occur with
periodic frequency but does not include storm surges in which there is a departure from the
normal or predicted reach of the tide due to the piling up of water against a coast by strong
winds such as those accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm.
Historic Property: Any prehistoric or historic district, site (including archaeological
site), building, structure, or other object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National
19

Register of Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior. This term includes
artifacts, records, and remains that are related to and located within such properties. The term
includes properties of traditional religious and cultural importance to an Indian tribe or Native
Hawaiian organization and that meet the National Register criteria (36 CFR part 60).
Independent utility: A test to determine what constitutes a single and complete non-
linear project in the Corps Regulatory Program. A project is considered to have independent
utility if it would be constructed absent the construction of other projects in the project area.
Portions of a multi -phase project that depend upon other phases of the project do not have
independent utility. Phases of a project that would be constructed even if the other phases were
not built can be considered as separate single and complete projects with independent utility.
Indirect effects: Effects that are caused by the activity and are later in time or farther
removed in distance, but are still reasonably foreseeable.
Intermittent stream: An intermittent stream has flowing water during certain times of
the year, when groundwater provides water for stream flow. During dry periods, intermittent
streams may not have flowing water. Runoff from rainfall is a supplemental source of water for
stream flow.
Loss of waters of the United States: Waters of the United States that are permanently
adversely affected by filling, flooding, excavation, or drainage because of the regulated activity.
Permanent adverse effects include permanent discharges of dredged or fill material that change
an aquatic area to dry land, increase the bottom elevation of a waterbody, or change the use of a
waterbody. The acreage of loss of waters of the United States is a threshold measurement of the
impact to jurisdictional waters for determining whether a project may qualify for an NWP; it is
not a net threshold that is calculated after considering compensatory mitigation that may be used
to offset losses of aquatic functions and services. The loss of stream bed includes the acres or
linear feet of stream bed that are filled or excavated as a result of the regulated activity. Waters
of the United States temporarily filled, flooded, excavated, or drained, but restored to pre -
construction contours and elevations after construction, are not included in the measurement of
loss of waters of the United States. Impacts resulting from activities that do not require
Department of the Army authorization, such as activities eligible for exemptions under section
404(f) of the Clean Water Act, are not considered when calculating the loss of waters of the
United States.
Navigable waters: Waters subject to section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of
1899. These waters are defined at 33 CFR part 329.
Non -tidal wetland: A non -tidal wetland is a wetland that is not subject to the ebb and
flow of tidal waters. Non -tidal wetlands contiguous to tidal waters are located landward of the
high tide line (i.e., spring high tide line).
Open water: For purposes of the NWPs, an open water is any area that in a year with
normal patterns of precipitation has water flowing or standing above ground to the extent that
an ordinary high water mark can be determined. Aquatic vegetation within the area of flowing
or standing water is either non -emergent, sparse, or absent. Vegetated shallows are considered
to be open waters. Examples of "open waters" include rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds.
Ordinary High Water Mark: An ordinary high water mark is a line on the shore
established by the fluctuations of water and indicated by physical characteristics, or by other
appropriate means that consider the characteristics of the surrounding areas.
Perennial stream: A perennial stream has flowing water year-round during a typical
year. The water table is located above the stream bed for most of the year. Groundwater is the
20

primary source of water for stream flow. Runoff from rainfall is a supplemental source of
water for stream flow.
Practicable: Available and capable of being done after taking into consideration cost,
existing technology, and logistics in light of overall project purposes.
Pre -construction notification: A request submitted by the project proponent to the
Corps for confirmation that a particular activity is authorized by nationwide permit. The request
may be a permit application, letter, or similar document that includes information about the
proposed work and its anticipated environmental effects. Pre -construction notification may be
required by the terms and conditions of a nationwide permit, or by regional conditions. A pre -
construction notification may be voluntarily submitted in cases where pre -construction
notification is not required and the project proponent wants confirmation that the activity is
authorized by nationwide permit.
Preservation: The removal of a threat to, or preventing the decline of, aquatic
resources by an action in or near those aquatic resources. This term includes activities
commonly associated with the protection and maintenance of aquatic resources through the
implementation of appropriate legal and physical mechanisms. Preservation does not result in a
gain of aquatic resource area or functions.
Protected tribal resources: Those natural resources and properties of traditional or
customary religious or cultural importance, either on or off Indian lands, retained by, or
reserved by or for, Indian tribes through treaties, statutes, judicial decisions, or executive orders,
including tribal trust resources.
Re-establishment: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of a site with the goal of returning natural/historic functions to a former aquatic
resource. Re-establishment results in rebuilding a former aquatic resource and results in a gain in
aquatic resource area and functions.
Rehabilitation: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological
characteristics of a site with the goal of repairing natural/historic functions to a degraded
aquatic resource. Rehabilitation results in a gain in aquatic resource function, but does not
result in a gain in aquatic resource area.
Restoration: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics
of a site with the goal of returning natural/historic functions to a former or degraded aquatic
resource. For the purpose of tracking net gains in aquatic resource area, restoration is divided
into two categories: re-establishment and rehabilitation.
Riffle and pool complex: Riffle and pool complexes are special aquatic sites under
the 404(b)(1) Guidelines. Riffle and pool complexes sometimes characterize steep gradient
sections of streams. Such stream sections are recognizable by their hydraulic characteristics.
The rapid movement of water over a course substrate in riffles results in a rough flow, a
turbulent surface, and high dissolved oxygen levels in the water. Pools are deeper areas
associated with riffles. A slower stream velocity, a streaming flow, a smooth surface, and a
finer substrate characterize pools.
Riparian areas: Riparian areas are lands next to streams, lakes, and estuarine- marine
shorelines. Riparian areas are transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, through
which surface and subsurface hydrology connects riverine, lacustrine, estuarine, and marine
waters with their adjacent wetlands, non -wetland waters, or uplands. Riparian areas provide a
variety of ecological functions and services and help improve or maintain local water quality.
(See general condition 23.)
21

Shellfish seeding: The placement of shellfish seed and/or suitable substrate to
increase shellfish production. Shellfish seed consists of immature individual shellfish or
individual shellfish attached to shells or shell fragments (i.e., spat on shell). Suitable substrate
may consist of shellfish shells, shell fragments, or other appropriate materials placed into
waters for shellfish habitat.
Single and complete linear project: A linear project is a project constructed for the
purpose of getting people, goods, or services from a point of origin to a terminal point, which
often involves multiple crossings of one or more waterbodies at separate and distant locations.
The term "single and complete project" is defined as that portion of the total linear project
proposed or accomplished by one owner/developer or partnership or other association of
owners/developers that includes all crossings of a single water of the United States (i.e., a
single waterbody) at a specific location. For linear projects crossing a single or multiple
waterbodies several times at separate and distant locations, each crossing is considered a single
and complete project for purposes of NWT authorization. However, individual channels in a
braided stream or river, or individual arms of a large, irregularly shaped wetland or lake, etc.,
are not separate waterbodies, and crossings of such features cannot be considered separately.
Single and complete non -linear project: For non -linear projects, the term "single and
complete project" is defined at 33 CFR 330.2(i) as the total project proposed or accomplished
by one owner/developer or partnership or other association of owners/developers. A single and
complete non -linear project must have independent utility (see definition of "independent
utility"). Single and complete non -linear projects may not be "piecemealed" to avoid the limits
in an NWT authorization.
Stormwater management: Stormwater management is the mechanism for controlling
stormwater runoff for the purposes of reducing downstream erosion, water quality
degradation, and flooding and mitigating the adverse effects of changes in land use on the
aquatic environment.
Stormwater management facilities: Stormwater management facilities are those
facilities, including but not limited to, stormwater retention and detention ponds and best
management practices, which retain water for a period of time to control runoff and/or improve
the quality (i.e., by reducing the concentration of nutrients, sediments, hazardous substances
and other pollutants) of stormwater runoff.
Stream bed: The substrate of the stream channel between the ordinary high water
marks. The substrate may be bedrock or inorganic particles that range in size from clay to
boulders. Wetlands contiguous to the stream bed, but outside of the ordinary high water marks,
are not considered part of the stream bed.
Stream channelization: The manipulation of a stream's course, condition, capacity,
or location that causes more than minimal interruption of normal stream processes. A
channelized stream remains a water of the United States.
Structure: An object that is arranged in a definite pattern of organization. Examples
of structures include, without limitation, any pier, boat dock, boat ramp, wharf, dolphin, weir,
boom, breakwater, bulkhead, revetment, riprap, jetty, artificial island, artificial reef,
permanent mooring structure, power transmission line, permanently moored floating vessel,
piling, aid to navigation, or any other manmade obstacle or obstruction.
Tidal wetland: A tidal wetland is a jurisdictional wetland that is inundated by tidal
waters. Tidal waters rise and fall in a predictable and measurable rhythm or cycle due to the
gravitational pulls of the moon and sun. Tidal waters end where the rise and fall of the water
22

surface can no longer be practically measured in a predictable rhythm due to masking by other
waters, wind, or other effects. Tidal wetlands are located channelward of the high tide line.
Tribal lands: Any lands title to which is either: 1) held in trust by the United States
for the benefit of any Indian tribe or individual; or 2) held by any Indian tribe or individual
subject to restrictions by the United States against alienation.
Tribal rights: Those rights legally accruing to a tribe or tribes by virtue of inherent
sovereign authority, unextinguished aboriginal title, treaty, statute, judicial decisions, executive
order or agreement, and that give rise to legally enforceable remedies.
Vegetated shallows: Vegetated shallows are special aquatic sites under the 404(b)(1)
Guidelines. They are areas that are permanently inundated and under normal circumstances
have rooted aquatic vegetation, such as seagrasses in marine and estuarine systems and a
variety of vascular rooted plants in freshwater systems.
Waterbody: For purposes of the NWPs, a waterbody is a jurisdictional water of the
United States. If a wetland is adjacent to a waterbody determined to be a water of the United
States, that waterbody and any adjacent wetlands are considered together as a single aquatic
unit (see 33 CFR 328.4(c)(2)). Examples of "waterbodies" include streams, rivers, lakes, ponds,
and wetlands.
23

FINAL 2017 REGIONAL CONDITIONS
NOTICE ABOUT WEB LINKS IN THIS DOCUMENT -
The web links (both internal to our Wilmington District and any external links to collaborating
agencies) in this document are valid at the time of publication. However, the Wilmington
District Regulatory Program web page addresses, as with other agency web sites, may change
over the timeframe of the five year Nationwide Permit renewal cycle, in response to policy
mandates or technology advances. While we will make every effort to check on the integrity of
our web links and provide re -direct pages whenever possible, we ask that you report any broken
links to us so we can keep the page information current and usable. We apologize in advanced
for any broken links that you may encounter, and we ask that you navigate from the Regulatory
home page (Regulatory Permit Program Wetlands and Streams) of the Wilmington District
Corps of Engineers, to the "Permits " section of our web site to find links for pages that cannot
be found by clicking directly on the listed web link in this document.
Final 2017 Regional Conditions for Nationwide Permits (NWP) in the Wilmington District
1.0 Excluded Waters
The Corps has identified waters that will be excluded from the use of all NWP's during certain
timeframes. These waters are:
1.1 Anadromous Fish Spawning Areas
Waters of the United States identified by either the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries
(NCDMF) or the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) as anadromous fish
spawning areas are excluded during the period between February 15 and June 30, without prior
written approval from the Corps and either NCDMF or NCWRC.
1.2 Trout Waters Moratorium
Waters of the United States in the designated trout watersheds of North Carolina are excluded
during the period between October 15 and April 15 without prior written approval from the
NCWRC, or from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Fisheries and Wildlife
Management (FWM) office if the project is located on EBCI trust land. (See Section 2.7 for
information on the designated trout watersheds).
1.3 Sturgeon Spawning Areas as Designated by the National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS)
Waters of the United States designated as sturgeon spawning areas are excluded during the
period between February 1 and June 30, without prior written approval from the NMFS.
24

2.0 Waters Requiring Additional Notification
The Corps has identified waters that will be subject to additional notification requirements for
activities authorized by all NWPs. These waters are:
2.1 Western NC Counties that Drain to Designated Critical Habitat
For proposed activities within waters of the United States that require a Pre -Construction
Notification (PCN) and are located in the sixteen counties listed below, permittees must provide
a copy of the PCN to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 160 Zillicoa Street,
Asheville, North Carolina 28801. This PCN must be sent concurrently to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and the Corps Asheville Regulatory Field Office. Please see General Condition
18 for specific notification requirements related to the Endangered Species Act and the below
website for information on the location of designated critical habitat.
Counties with tributaries that drain to designated critical habitat that require notification to the
Asheville U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Avery, Cherokee, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood,
Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union
and Yancey.
Website and office addresses for Endangered Species Act Information:
The Wilmington District has developed the following website for permittees which provides
guidelines on how to review linked websites and maps in order to fulfill NWP General Condition
18 requirements:
http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Re _ u�ryPermitPro _ r�gencyCoordination/ESA.a
Permittees who do not have internet access may contact the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service offices listed below or Corps at [phone]:
Asheville U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office counties: All counties west of and including
Anson, Stanly, Davidson, Forsythe and Stokes Counties.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Asheville Field Office
160 Zillicoa Street
Asheville, NC 28801
Telephone: [phone]
Raleigh U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office counties: all counties east of and including
Richmond, Montgomery, Randolph, Guilford, and Rockingham Counties.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Raleigh Field Office
Post Office Box 33726
25

Raleigh, NC 27636-3726
Telephone: [phone]
2.2 Special Designation Waters
Prior to the use of any NWP, except NWP 3, that involves a discharge of dredged or fill material
in any of the following identified waters and/or adjacent wetlands in North Carolina, permittees
shall submit a PCN to the District Engineer prior to commencing the activity (see General
Condition 32). The North Carolina waters and wetlands that require additional notification
requirements are:
"Outstanding Resource Waters" (ORW) or "High Quality Waters" (HQW) as designated by the
North Carolina Environmental Management Commission; "Primary Nursery Areas" (PNA),
including inland PNA, as designated by the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission and
the NCWRC; or wetlands adjacent to these waters. Definitions of ORW, HQW and PNA waters
can be found in the North Carolina State Administrative Code, Title 15A, Subchapters 2B and
IOC (15A NCAC 02B, 15A NCAC IOC) and at the following World Wide Web page:
http : //reports. oah. state. ne.us/ncac. asp? folderName=\Title%2015 A%20-
%20Environmental%20Quality&lookUpError=l5A%20NCAC%20000%20. Surface water
classifications for waters in North Carolina can be viewed at the North Carolina Division of
Water Resources website or at the following World Wide Web Page:
https:Hdeq.nc. gov/about/divisions/water-resources/planning/classification-
standards/classifications
Permittees who do not have internet access may contact the Corps at (910) 251- 4633.
2.3 Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Areas of Environmental Concern
Non-federal permittees for any NWP in a designated "Area of Environmental Concern" (AEC)
in the twenty (20) counties of Eastern North Carolina covered by the North Carolina Coastal
Area Management Act (CAMA) must also obtain the required CAMA permit. Development
activities for non-federal projects may not commence until a copy of the approved CAMA permit
is furnished to the appropriate Wilmington District Regulatory Field Office (Wilmington Field
Office — 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403, [phone] or Washington Field
Office— 2407 West 5th Street, Washington, NC 27889, [phone]).
2.4 Barrier Islands
Prior to the use of any NWP on a barrier island of North Carolina, permittees must submit a PCN
to the District Engineer prior to commencing the activity (see General Condition 32).
2.5 Mountain or Piedmont Bogs
Prior to the use of any NWP in a Bog, as classified by the North Carolina Wetland Assessment
Methodology (NCWAM), permittees shall submit a PCN to the District Engineer prior to
commencing the activity (see General Condition 32). The latest version of NCWAM can be
all

viewed on the Corps RIBITS (Regulatory In -lieu Fee and Bank Information Tracking System)
website or at the following World Wide Web Page:
h!Ltps://ribits.usace.army.mil/ribits gpex/Vp=l07:27:0::NO:::
2.6 Animal Waste Facilities
Prior to use of any NWP for construction of animal waste facilities in waters of the United
States, including wetlands, permittees shall submit a PCN to the District Engineer prior to
commencing the activity (see General Condition 32).
2.7 Trout Waters
Prior to any discharge of dredge or fill material into streams, waterbodies or wetlands within the
294 designated trout watersheds of North Carolina, the permittee shall submit a PCN (see
General Condition 32) to the District Engineer prior to commencing the activity, unless other
thresholds are established in the Regional Conditions in Section 4 (Additional Regional
Conditions for Specific Nationwide Permits). The permittee shall also provide a copy of the
notification to the appropriate NCWRC office, or to the EBCI FWM Office (if the project is
located on EBCI trust land), to facilitate the determination of any potential impacts to designated
Trout Waters.
Notification to the Corps will include a statement with the name of the NCWRC or EBCI FWM
biologist contacted, the date of the notification, the location of work, a delineation of wetlands
and waters, a discussion of alternatives to working in the mountain trout waters, why alternatives
were not selected, and, if applicable, a plan to provide compensatory mitigation for all
unavoidable adverse impacts to mountain trout waters.
NCWRC and NC Trout Watersheds:
NCWRC Contact**
Counties that are
entirely within Trout
Watersheds*
Counties that are
partially within Trout
Watersheds*
Mountain Coordinator
Alleghany
Jackson
Burke
McDowell
Balsam Depot
Ashe
Macon
Buncombe
Mitchell
20830 Great Smoky
Avery
Swain
Caldwell
Polk
Mountain Expressway
Graham
Transylvania
Cherokee
Rutherford
Waynesville, NC 28786
Haywood
Watauga
Clay
Surry
Telephone: [phone]
Henderson
Wilkes
Madison
Yancey
For NCDOT Projects:
NCDOT Coordinator
206 Charter. Street
Albemarle, NC 28001
Telephone: [phone]
27

*NOTE: To determine notification requirements, contact the Corps Asheville Regulatory Field
Office at [phone] or view maps for each County at the following World Wide Web page:
http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Re ug latory-Permit-Pro rg am/Agency-
Coordination/Trout/.
**If a project is located on EBCI trust land, submit the PCN in accordance with Section 3.14.
Contact the Corps Asheville Regulatory Field Office at [phone] with questions.
2.8 Western NC Waters and Corridors
The permittee shall submit a PCN (see General Condition 32) to the District Engineer prior to
commencing the activity in waters of the United States if the activity will occur within any of the
following identified waters in western North Carolina, within 0.5 mile on either side of these
waters, or within 0.75 mile of the Little Tennessee River, as measured from the top of the bank
of the respective water (i.e., river, stream, or creek):
Brasstown Creek
Burningtown Creek
Cane River
Caney Fork
Cartoogechaye Creek
Chattooga River
Cheoah River
Cowee Creek
Cullasaja River
Deep Creek
Ellijay Creek
French Broad River
Garden Creek
Hiwassee River
Hominy Creek
Iotla Creek
Little Tennessee River (within the river or within 0.75 mile on either side of this river)
Nantahala River
Nolichucky River
North Fork French Broad River
North Toe River
Nottley River
Oconaluftee River (portion not located on trust/EBCI land)
Peachtree Creek
Shooting Creek
Snowbird Creek
South Toe River
Stecoah Creek
Swannanoa River
Sweetwater Creek

Tuckasegee River (also spelled Tuckaseegee or Tuckaseigee)
Valley River
Watauga Creek
Watauga River
Wayah Creek
West Fork French Broad River
To determine notification requirements, contact the Corps Asheville Regulatory Field Office at
[phone] or view maps for all corridors at the following World Wide Web page:
http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory-Permit-Pro rg am/Agency-
Coordination/Designated-Special-Waters. aspx
3.0 List of Corps Regional Conditions for All Nationwide Permits
The following conditions apply to all Nationwide Permits in the Wilmington District:
3.1 Limitation of Loss of Stream Bed
NWPs may not be used for activities that may result in the loss or degradation of more than 300
total linear feet of stream bed, unless the District Engineer has waived the 300 linear foot limit
for ephemeral and intermittent streams on a case -by -case basis and has determined that the
proposed activity will result in minimal individual and cumulative adverse impacts to the aquatic
environment. Waivers for the loss of ephemeral and intermittent streams must be in writing and
documented by appropriate/accepted stream quality assessments*. This waiver only applies to
the 300 linear feet threshold for NWPs.
This Regional Condition does not apply to NWP 23 (Approved Categorical Exclusions).
*NOTE: Permittees should utilize the most current methodology prescribed by Wilmington
District to assess stream function and quality. Information can be found at:
https://ribits.usace.army.mil/ribits gpex/Vp=l07:27:0::NO:::
3.2 Mitigation for Loss of Stream Bed
For any NWP that results in a loss of more than 150 linear feet of stream, the permittee shall
provide a mitigation proposal to compensate for more than minimal individual and cumulative
adverse impacts to the aquatic environment. For stream losses of 150 linear feet or less that
require a PCN, the District Engineer may determine, on a case -by -case basis, that compensatory
mitigation is required to ensure that the activity results in minimal adverse effect on the aquatic
environment.
3.3 Pre -construction Notification for Loss of Streambed Exceeding 150 Feet
Prior to use of any NWP for any activity which impacts more than 150 total linear feet of
perennial stream, intermittent or ephemeral stream, the permittee shall submit a PCN to the
District Engineer prior to commencing the activity (see General Condition 32). This applies to
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NWPs that do not have specific notification requirements. If a NWP has specific notification
requirements, the requirements of the NWP should be followed.
3.4 Restriction on Use of Live Concrete
For all NWPs which allow the use of concrete as a building material, live or fresh concrete,
including bags of uncured concrete, may not come into contact with the water in or entering into
waters of the United States. Water inside coffer dams or casings that has been in contact with
wet concrete shall only be returned to waters of the United States after the concrete is set and
cured and when it no longer poses a threat to aquatic organisms.
3.5 Requirements for Using Riprap for Bank Stabilization
For all NWPs that allow for the use of riprap material for bank stabilization, the following
measures shall be applied:
3.5.1. Where bank stabilization is conducted as part of an activity, natural design, bioengineering
and/or geoengineering methods that incorporate natural durable materials, native seed mixes, and
native plants and shrubs are to be utilized to the maximum extent practicable.
3.5.2. Filter cloth must be placed underneath the riprap as an additional requirement of its use in
North Carolina waters. The placement of filter fabric is not required if the riprap will be pushed
or "keyed" into the bank of the waterbody. A waiver from the specifications in this Regional
Condition may be requested in writing. The waiver will only be issued if it can be demonstrated
that the impacts of complying with this Regional Condition would result in greater adverse
impacts to the aquatic environment.
3.5.3. The placement of riprap shall be limited to the areas depicted on submitted work plan
drawings.
3.5.4. The riprap material shall be clean and free from loose dirt or any pollutant except in trace
quantities that would not have an adverse environmental effect.
3.5.5. It shall be of a size sufficient to prevent its movement from the authorized alignment by
natural forces under normal conditions.
3.5.6. The riprap material shall consist of clean rock or masonry material such as, but not limited
to, granite, marl, or broken concrete.
3.6 Requirements for Culvert Placement
3.6.1 For all NWPs that involve the construction/installation of culverts, measures will be
included in the construction/installation that will promote the safe passage of fish and other
aquatic organisms. The dimension, pattern, and profile of the stream above and below a pipe or
culvert should not be modified by altering the width or depth of the stream profile in connection
with the construction activity. The width, height, and gradient of a proposed culvert should be
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sufficient to pass the average historical low flow and spring flow without adversely altering flow
velocity. Spring flow is the seasonal sustained high flow that typically occurs in the spring.
Spring flows should be determined from gage data, if available. In the absence of such data,
bank -full flow can be used as a comparable indicator.
In Public Trust Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC) and/or the Estuarine Waters AEC as
designated by the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA): All pipes/culverts must be
sufficiently sized to allow for the burial of the bottom of the culvert at least one foot below
normal bed elevation.
Circular
Culvert
12 Inches
r
Invert
Ries
(Dlamr)
In all other areas: Culverts greater than 48 inches in diameter will be buried at least one foot
below the bed of the stream. Culverts 48 inches in diameter or less shall be buried to maintain
aquatic passage and to maintain passage during drought or low flow conditions, and every effort
shall be made to maintain the existing channel slope.
Culverts must be designed and constructed in a manner that minimizes destabilization and head
cutting. Destabilizing the channel and head cutting upstream should be considered and
appropriate actions incorporated in the design and placement of the culvert.
A waiver from the depth specifications in this condition may be requested, in writing, by the
permittee and issued by the Corp; this request must be specific as to the reasons(s) for the
request. The waiver will be issued if it can be demonstrated that the proposed design would
result in less impacts to the aquatic environment.
All counties: Culverts placed within riparian and/or riverine wetlands must be installed in a
manner that does not restrict the flow and circulation patterns of waters of the United States.
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Culverts placed across wetland fills purely for the purposes of equalizing surface water do not
have to be buried, but the culverts must be of adequate size and/or number to ensure unrestricted
transmission of water.
3.6.2 Bank -full flows (or less) shall be accommodated through maintenance of the existing bank -
full channel cross sectional area. Additional culverts or culvert barrels at such crossings shall be
allowed only to receive bank -full flows.
Approach Fill
Roadway
Bafflef Strum
Blockage Bottom
Culvert buried
belowstreambed
to appropriate
depth (if required).
3.6.3 Where adjacent floodplain is available, flows exceeding bank -full should be accommodated
by installing culverts at the floodplain elevation. Additional culverts or culvert barrels at such
crossings should not be buried, or if buried, must have sills at the inlets to ensure that they only
receive flows exceeding bank -full.
3.6.4 Excavation of existing stream channels shall be limited to the minimum necessary to
construct or install the proposed culvert. The final width of the impacted stream at the culvert
inlet and outlet should be no greater than the original stream width. A waiver from this condition
may be requested in writing; this request must be specific as to the reason(s) for the request. The
waiver will be issued if the proposed design would result in less impacts to the aquatic
environment and/or if it can be demonstrated that it is not practicable to restore the final width of
the impacted stream at the culvert inlet and outlet to the width of the original stream channel.
3.6.5 The width of the culvert shall be comparable to the width of the stream channel. If the
width of the culvert is wider than the stream channel, the culvert shall include baffles, benches
and/or sills to maintain the width of the stream channel. A waiver from this condition may be
requested in writing; this request must be specific as to the reason(s) for the request. The waiver
will be issued if it can be demonstrated that it is not practicable or necessary to include baffles,
benches or sills and the design would result in less impacts to the aquatic environment.
3.7 Notification to NCDEQ Shellfish Sanitation Section
Permittees shall notify the NCDEQ Shellfish Sanitation Section prior to dredging in or removing
sediment from an area closed to shell fishing where the effluent may be released to an area open
for shell fishing or swimming in order to avoid contamination from the disposal area and cause a
temporary shellfish closure to be made. Such notification shall also be provided to the
appropriate Corps Regulatory Field Office. Any disposal of sand to the ocean beach should
occur between November 1 and April 30 when recreational usage is low. Only clean sand
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should be used and no dredged sand from closed shell fishing areas may be used. If beach
disposal were to occur at times other than stated above or if sand from a closed shell fishing area
is to be used, a swimming advisory shall be posted, and a press release shall be issued by the
permittee.
3.8 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
Impacts to Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) are not authorized by any NWP, except NWP
48, unless EFH Consultation has been completed pursuant to the Magnuson -Stevens Fisheries
Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson -Stevens Act). Permittees shall submit a PCN
(See NWP General Condition 32) to the District Engineer prior to commencing the activity if the
project would affect SAV. The permittee may not begin work until notified by the Corps that the
requirements of the Magnuson -Stevens Act have been satisfied and that the activity is
authorized.
3.9 Sedimentation and Erosion Control Structures and Measures
All PCNs will identify and describe sedimentation and erosion control structures and measures
proposed for placement in waters of the United States. The structures and measures should be
depicted on maps, surveys or drawings showing location and impacts to jurisdictional wetlands
and streams.
3.10 Restoration of Temporary Impacts to Stream Beds
Upon completion of work that involves temporary stream impacts, streambeds are to be restored
to pre -project elevations and widths using natural streambed material such that the impacted
stream reach mimics the adjacent upstream and downstream reach. The impacted area shall be
backfilled with natural streambed material to a depth of at least 12 inches or to the bottom depth
of the impacted area if shallower than 12 inches. An engineered in -stream structure or material
can be used to provide protection of a buried structure if it provides benefits to the aquatic
environment and can be accomplished by a natural streambed design. A permittee may request a
waiver of this condition if it is determined a buried structure needs significant physical protection
beyond those provided in this condition. This condition does not apply to NWP 27 — Aquatic
Habitat Restoration, Enhancement, and Establishment Activities.
3.11 Restoration of Temporary Impacts to Stream Banks
Upon completion of work involving temporary stream bank impacts, stream banks are to be
restored to pre -project grade and contours or beneficial grade and contours if the original bank
slope is steep and unstable. Natural durable materials, native seed mixes, and native plants and
shrubs are to be utilized in the restoration. Natural designs which use bioengineered and/or geo-
engineered methods are to be applied. An engineered structure or material can be used to provide
protection of a buried structure if it provides benefits to the stream bank environment, provided it
is not in excess of the minimum amount needed for protection and does not exceed an average of
one cubic yard per running foot placed along the bank below the plane of the ordinary high water
mark. A permittee may request a waiver of this condition if it is determined a buried structure
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needs significant physical protection beyond those provided in this condition. This condition
does not apply to NWP 27 — Aquatic Habitat Restoration, Enhancement, and Establishment
Activities.
3.12 Federal Navigation Channel Setbacks and Corps Easements
3.12.1 Authorized structures and fills located in or adjacent to Federally authorized waterways
will be constructed in accordance with the latest setback criteria established by the Wilmington
District Engineer. You may review the setback policy at
http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Setbacks.aspx. This general permit does
not authorize the construction of hardened or permanently fixed structures within the Federally
Authorized Channel Setback, unless the activity is approved by the Corps. The permittee shall
submit a PCN (see General Condition 32) to the District Engineer prior to the construction of any
structures or fills within the Federally Authorized Channel Setback.
3.12.2 The permittee shall obtain a Consent to Cross Government Easement from the
Wilmington District's Land Use Coordinator prior to any crossing of the Corps easement and/or
prior to commencing construction of any structures, authorized dredging or other work within the
right-of-way of, or in proximity to, a federally designated disposal area. The Land Use
Coordinator may be contacted at: CESAW-OP-N, 69 Darlington Avenue, Wilmington, North
Carolina 28403-1343, email: SAWWeb-NAV(a),usace.army.mil
3.13 Northern Long-eared Bat — Endangered Species Act Compliance
The Wilmington District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has consulted with the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in regards to the threatened Northern long-eared bat
(NLEB) (Myotis septentrionalis) and Standard Local Operating Procedures for Endangered
Species (SLOPES) have been approved by the Corps and the USFWS. This condition concerns
effects to the NLEB only and does not address effects to other federally listed species and/or
federally designated critical habitat.
A. Procedures when the Corps is the lead federal* agency for a project:
The permittee must comply with (1) and (2) below when:
• the project is located in the western 41 counties of North Carolina, to include non-
federal aid North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) projects, OR;
• the project is located in the 59 eastern counties of North Carolina, and is a non-
NCDOT project.
*Generally, if a project is located on private property or on non-federal land, and the project
is not being funded by a federal entity, the Corps will be the lead federal agency due to the
requirement to obtain Department of the Army authorization to impact waters of the United
States. If the project is located on federal land, contact the Corps to determine the lead
federal agency.
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(1) A permittee using a NWP must check to see if their project is located in the range of
the NLEB by using the following website:
http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/mammals/nleb/pdf/"SZong.pdf. If the
project is within the range of the NLEB, or if the project includes percussive activities
(e.g., blasting, pile driving, etc.), the permittee is then required to check the appropriate
website in the paragraph below to discover if their project:
• is located in a 12-digit Hydrologic Unit Code area ("red HUC" - shown as red areas
on the map), AND/OR;
• involves percussive activities within 0.25 mile of a red HUC.
Red HUC maps - for the western 41 counties in NC (covered by the Asheville Ecological
Services Field Office), check the project location against the electronic maps found at:
http://www.fws.gov/asheville/htmis/project_review/NLEB_ in WNC.html. For the eastern
59 counties in NC (covered by the Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office), check the
project location against the electronic maps found at:
h!Ltps://www.fws.gov/raleigh/NLEB RFO.html.
(2) A permittee must submit a PCN to the District Engineer, and receive written
authorization from the District Engineer, prior to commencing the activity, if the activity
will involve as of the following:
• tree clearing/removal, construction/installation of wind turbines in a red HUC,
AND/OR;
• bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has been inspected and there is
no evidence of bat use, (applies anywhere in the range of the NLEB), AND/OR:
. percussive activities in a red HUC, or within 0.25 mile of a red HUC.
The permittee may proceed with the activity without submitting a PCN to either the Corps
or the USFWS, provided the activity complies with all applicable NWP terms and general
and regional conditions, if the permittee's review under A.(1) and A.(2) above shows that
the project is:
located outside of a red HUC (and there are no percussive activities), and the
activity will NOT include bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has
been inspected and there is no evidence of bat use, OR;
located outside of a red HUC and there are percussive activities, but the percussive
activities will not occur within 0.25-mile of a red HUC boundary, and the activity
will NOT include bridge removal or maintenance, unless the bridge has been
inspected and there is no evidence of bat use, OR;
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located in a red HUC, but the activity will NOT include: tree clearing/removal;
construction/installation of wind turbines; bridge removal or maintenance, unless
the bridge has been inspected and there is no evidence of bat use, and/or; aM
percussive activities.
B. Procedures when the USACE is not the lead federal agency:
For projects where another federal agency is the lead federal agency - if that other federal agency
has completed project -specific ESA Section 7(a)(2) consultation for the NLEB, and has (1)
determined that the project would not cause prohibited incidental take of the NLEB, and (2)
completed coordination/consultation that is required by the USFWS (per the directions on the
respective USFWS office's website), that project may proceed without notification to either the
USACE or the USFWS, provided all General and Regional Permit Conditions are met.
The NLEB SLOPES can be viewed on the USACE website at the following World Wide Web
Page: hqp://www.saw.usace.anny.mil/Missions/Re ug latory-Permit-Pro rg am/Agency-
Coordination/ESA/. Permittees who do not have internet access may contact the USACE at (910)
251- 4633.
3.14 Work on Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Land
All PCNs submitted for activities in waters of the United States on Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians (EBCI) trust land (i.e., Qualla Boundary and non-contiguous tracts of trust land), must
comply with the requirements of the latest MOU between the Wilmington District and the
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.