• The Special Public Notice announces the Seattle Districts decision to accept and expend funds contributed by BNSF Railway Company (BNSF). Please read this SPN dated October 6, 2020.

• The Special Public Notice announces the publication of the proposed 2020 Nationwide Permits, national and Seattle District regional conditions and requests comments. Please read this SPN dated September 30, 2020.

• New 401 Water Quality Certification Rule by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Please read this SPN dated September 25, 2020, for details on how this applies to permit applications submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District for projects in Washington State.
• Seattle District, Regulatory Branch Paperless Initiative:  Effective January 1, 2020, all permit applications should be submitted electronically.  Please read this SPN for the details on how to name and submit permit application materials.

• Special Public Notice- The Special Public Notice dated September 30, 2020 announces the publication of the proposed 2020 Nationwide Permits, national and Seattle District regional conditions and requests comments.
• News Release - Publication of Proposed Rule 2020 Nationwide Permits - September 15, 2020
• Federal Register Notice - Proposed Rule 2020 Nationwide Permits - September 15, 2020

Information on Final Rule-Clean Water Act 401 Certification Rule: Links to EPA's website for the Final Rule
Overview of Changes and FAQS
EPA Outreach

• Special Public Notice - September 25, 2020

USACE is continuing to work on Regulatory actions, such as permits, while dealing with the impacts of COVID-19.  In accordance with public health guidance and government directives, our employees are taking necessary precautions for their health and welfare as prescribed by the nation's health experts.  Employees are teleworking to continue performing their duties.  The primary method of communication will be via email.  Virtual meetings may also be utilized. This may cause delays while we get systems in place to handle this unprecedented event, but rest assured we are working as quickly as possible and are dedicated to serving the public while taking care of our staff.  We appreciate your patience and please understand USACE is committed to doing its part to help keep our city and region healthy and combat further spread of COVID-19 while continuing our mission

On April 21, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule: Definition of “Waters of the United States” was published in the Federal Register. This final rule establishes the scope of federal regulatory authority under the Clean Water Act. The Navigable Waters Protection Rule includes four simple categories of jurisdictional waters and provides specific exclusions for many water features that traditionally have not been regulated. The final rule will become effective on June 22, 2020.  The published version is 93 pages, and the citation is: 85 FR 22250.  The Federal Register notice is available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/21/2020-02500/the-navigable-waters-protection-rule-definition-of-waters-of-the-united-states.  Additional information about the rule can be found on the EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/nwpr.

Corps Headquarters has posted an announcement for the publication of the rule on our Regulatory webpage, at the following locations:

https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/

https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/juris_info/

Seattle District, Regulatory Branch Paperless Initiative:  Effective January 1, 2020, all permit applications should be submitted electronically.  Please read this SPN for the details on how to name and submit permit application materials.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), as part of an interagency effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is announcing the availability of the final 2018 National Wetland Plant List (NWPL). The Federal Register Notice for the 2018 NWPL update can be found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2020-05-18/pdf/2020-10630.pdf.

The NWPL provides plant species indicator status ratings, which are used in determining whether the hydrophytic vegetation factor is met when conducting wetland delineations under the Clean Water Act and wetland determinations under the Wetland Conservation Provisions of the Food Security Act. Other applications of the NWPL include wetland restoration, establishment, and enhancement projects. The list is effective as of May 18, 2020 and will be used in any wetland delineations performed after this date. Completed wetland delineation/determination forms should reference the version of the NWPL used to complete the form.  The final NWPL is available at http://wetland-plants.usace.army.mil/.  State, regional, and national lists can also be downloaded from this site.

On June 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published information stating that a large portion of Eagle Harbor is a designated no anchor area.  Activities EPA has prohibited in this area include anchoring, dredging, laying cable, dragging, seining, bottom fishing, conducting salvage operations, or any other activity which could potentially disturb the seabed.  Click HERE to view EPA's published announcement.

BP Cherry Point Dock

• Draft Environmental Impact Statement, May 2014       
  • Appendix A, Notice of Intent
  • Appendix B, Scoping Report
  • Appendix C, Vessel Traffic Risk Analysis
  • Appendix D, Vessel Traffic Analysis
  • Appendix E, Ecology Fate and Effects
  • Appendix F, Nearshore and Marine Resources
  • Appendix G, Biological Evaluation
  • Appendix H, Magnuson Amendment Discussion

• News Release - 1,000s of comments in EIS process for BP Cherry Point dock North Wing
• Draft EIS Federal Register Notice June 2014
• Posters from Draft EIS Public Meetings July 2014
• Presentation from Draft EIS Public Meetings July 2014

BP Cherry Point Refinery Marine Terminal North Wing Extension

• Environmental Impact Statement Scope, November 2010

U.S. Navy Explosives Handling Wharf 2 at Bangor

• Record of Decision
• Signed Permit
• Comments and Responses Appendix A

• News Release - Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Scope of Analysis for EIS (18 Feb 2014)
• Memorandum on Scope of Analysis for EIS (14 Feb 2014)
• News Release - Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District will Require EIS for Proposal (13 July 2011)
• News Release - Consultant selected for environmental review of Millennium Bulk Terminals - Longview proposal
• News Release - Scoping period announced for proposed Millennium Terminal-Longview project EIS
• Notice of Intent to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement
• Federal Register posting (6 September 2013) regarding NEPA EIS scoping meetings

• Public Notice - 30 September 2016: Request for Comments and NEPA Draft Environmental Impact Statement
• MBTL Website for access to documents
• News Release - Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District Scope of Analysis for EIS (18 Feb 2014)
• Memorandum on Scope of Analysis for EIS (14 Feb 2014)
• News Release - Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District will Require EIS for Proposal (13 July 2011)
• News Release - Consultant selected for environmental review of Millennium Bulk Terminals - Longview proposal
• News Release - Scoping period announced for proposed Millennium Terminal-Longview project EIS
• Notice of Intent to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement
• Federal Register posting (6 September 2013) regarding NEPA EIS scoping meetings

• Final User's Guide dated March 16, 2018
• Special Public Notice Announcing Seattle District Regional Conditions dated March 17, 2017
• 2017 Seattle District Regional Conditions dated March 17, 2017
• 2017 Nationwide Permit National Conditions, Federal Register dated January 6, 2017 (Conditions start on pg. 1983; pg. 125 of pdf)
• 401 Water Quality Certification Decisions
  • Washington Department of Ecology
  • Spokane Tribe
  • Tulalip Tribes
  • Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation
  • Kalispel Tribe of Indians
  • Lummi Nation
  • Makah Tribe
  • Puyallup Tribe of Indians
  • Swinomish Indian Tribal Community
  • Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe
• Special Public Notice Announcing Proposed Regional Conditions; Issued June 20, 2016; Comment Period Has Closed.
• Special Public Notice Nationwide Permit 48 Reissuance – 11/23/2016
• Clarification to the Nov 23 SPN NWP 48 - 11/30/2016