MISSISSIPPI REGIONAL CONDITIONS REQUEST FOR COMMENTS
On September 15, 2020, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published in the Federal Register its proposal to reissue the 52 existing nationwide permits (NWPs) and issue five new NWPs. Nationwide permits are general permits issued on a nationwide basis to streamline the authorization of activities that result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. Many of the proposed NWPs require notification to the district engineer before commencing those activities, to ensure that the activities authorized by those NWPs cause no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects.
Regional Issues Concerning the Proposed NWPs, Including Regional Conditioning: Division engineers are authorized to add regional conditions specific to the needs and/or requirements of a particular region or state. Regional conditions are an important mechanism to help ensure that the adverse environmental effects of activities authorized by the NWPs are no more than minimal, both individually and cumulatively. Division engineers may also suspend or revoke specific NWPs in certain geographic areas (e.g., states or watersheds) or high-value aquatic systems where the adverse environmental effects caused by activities authorized by those NWPs may be more than minimal. As the lead Corps district for the State of Mississippi, the Vicksburg District is not proposing to add regional conditions specific to Mississippi. The Vicksburg District is seeking comments on the need for regional conditions to help ensure that the adverse environmental effects of activities authorized by the proposed NWPs are no more than minimal, individually and cumulatively to the resources in Mississippi. Comments on regional issues relating to the proposed use of the NWPs in Mississippi should be forwarded via email to: GeneralPermitReissuance@usace.army.mil; or by hard copy to: USACE, Vicksburg District, ATTN: Regulatory Division, 4155 Clay Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39183-3435. Comments relating to regional conditions are due by October 30, 2020.
Jennifer A. Mallard
Chief, Regulatory Division