FORT WORTH, Texas –The Fort Worth District Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released the Flood Recovery and Repair Activities Public Notice on May 26, 2015 to provide guidance and a summary of exemptions and permits which may be required for the removal of debris and protection and repair of existing flood damaged structures.
The public notice provides information for the repair and maintenance of existing facilities, upland areas, bank stabilization, emergency watershed protection and rehabilitation, dredging in and around water intake structures, boat slips, and docks under the authority of Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 USC 403) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1344).
As work progresses from emergency debris removal to repair and reconstruction of facilities and stream channels, Section 404 of the Clean Water Act or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act authorization may be required.
Depending on the size and location of proposed work, projects may be permitted through the use of the various nationwide permits which may not require coordination from the Corps to use. For more complicated or larger projects which require NWP preconstruction notification or use of standard individual permits, applicants will be required to submit an application for review and receive authorization prior to beginning work. Please note that all regional and General Conditions, such as compliance with the Endangered Species Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, still apply. Permits do not authorize any damage to private property, invasion of property rights, or any infringement of federal, state, or local laws or regulations. For work on lakes or flood easements, check with the local reservoir or water authority prior to any activities.
For any activities that are not emergency protective measures (i.e., permanent work or final reconstruction), all regular permitting and regulatory processes apply. Therefore, communities should keep the long-term recovery requirements in mind as they move through the initial construction stages of emergency protective measures.
To view the public notice, visit http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Media/PublicNotices/tabid/6600/Article/589711/public-notice-2015-flood-recovery-and-repair-activities.aspx. For more information regarding permitting options, view the May 26, 2015 Public Notice or visit our Regulatory website at http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.aspx.
For more information regarding emergency authorizations, if corrective action requiring a permit does not need an abbreviated schedule, visit http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Portals/47/docs/regulatory/Permitting/SWFEmergencyPermitGuidanceMay2014.pdf.
To determine if proposed work may need a permit, use the pre-application form and an assigned project manager will provide additional guidance. The pre-application form is available at http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Permitting/ApplicationSubmittalForms.aspx.
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About the Fort Worth District: The Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was established in 1950. The District is responsible for water resources development in two-thirds of Texas, and design and construction at military installations in Texas and parts of Louisiana and New Mexico. Visit the Fort Worth District Web site at: www.swf.usace.army.mil and SWF Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Worth-District-US-Army-Corps-of-Engineers/188083711219308