News and Updates

Collapse All Expand All
  • 26 July 2022: Special Public Notice announcing publication of 2021 Nationwide Permits - User Guide

  • 30 June 2022: Special Public Notice announcing Salish Sea Nearshore Programmatic Consultation

  • 14 February 2022: Special Public Notice announcing 2021 Nationwide Permits - Final 41 - Regional Conditions

  • 7 January 2022 - Special Public Notice announcing 27 December 2021 publication in the Federal Register Notice announcing 2021 NWPs - Final 41

  • 21 June 2021:  This Special Public Notice (SPN) supersedes the SPN dated March 22, 2021 with corrections. The Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Certification (WQC) Determination for NWP 29, 39, 40, 42, 43, 48, 57, and 58 is corrected and is listed in Enclosure 1. Individual WQC is required from Ecology for all of these NWPs. There is no General WQC for these NWPs. 

  • 22 March 2021:  This Special Public Notice (SPN) supersedes the SPN dated March 17, 2021 with revisions to this SPN and enclosure.  The date of the general 2021 NWP public outreach event is March 31, 2021, not March 24, 2021.

  • 22 March 2021:  This Special Public Notice (SPN) supersedes the SPN dated March 9, 2021 with  revisions.  The Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Certification Determination for NWP 55 and 56 was incorrectly listed in Enclosure 1.  Individual WQC is required from the appropriate certifying agency for both NWPs.  Also, in Ecology’s WQC General Condition 2, the word “that” was changed to “and”.

  • 17 March 2021:  A Public Outreach Event on Shellfish Mariculture will be held on March 31, 2021 from 1:30 - 3:30 pm.  You must RSVP to marcy.m.wyatt@usace.army.mil to attend this event.  See SPN for details.

  • 9 March 2021:  This Special Public Notice (SPN) supersedes the SPN dated March 5, 2021 with a revision.  The Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Certification General Condition 4 was incorrectly listed in Enclosure 1.  The reference to marine waters with eelgrass is corrected (bolded text) as follows: [Individual WQC] is required for activities in or affecting “marine waters with eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds (except for NWP 48)”.

  • 5 March 2021:  Final Regional Conditions for Seattle District 2021 Nationwide Permits - Final 16 and Public Outreach Event Announcement.  On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a final rule in the Federal Register (86 FR 2744) announcing the reissuance of 12 existing nationwide permits (NWPs) and four new NWPs, as well as the reissuance of NWP general conditions and definitions with some modifications. 16 NWPs will go into effect on March 15, 2021, and will expire on March 14, 2026.  You must RSVP to attend the Public Outreach Event.  See SPN for details.

  • This Special Public Notice announces the publication of a final rule in the Federal Register (86 FR 2744) announcing the reissuance of 12 existing nationwide permits and four new NWPs, as well as the reissuance of NWP general conditions and definitions with some modifications. These 16 NWPs will go into effect on March 15, 2021, and will expire on March 14, 2026.

  • 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.

  • 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.

The National Wetland Plant List (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. To update the NWPL, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), 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 proposed changes to the 2022 NWPL and its web address to solicit public comments. The public will now have the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to wetland indicator status ratings for two plant species in the Arid West (AW) region. In addition, we are accepting comments on the proposal to move from a two-year update cycle to a three-year update cycle for the NWPL. Finally, USACE is seeking comments on the overall NWPL update process. Comments must be submitted on or before March 21, 2023. Click here for a copy of the Federal Register notice more information.

The Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ("the agencies") are in receipt of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona’s August 30, 2021, order vacating and remanding the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) in the case of Pascua Yaqui Tribe v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In light of this order, the agencies have halted implementation of the NWPR nationwide and are interpreting “waters of the United States” consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory regime. 

On December 30, 2022, the agencies announced the final "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'" rule. On January 18, 2023, the rule was published in the Federal Registerthe rule will be effective on March 20, 2023. The agencies developed this rule with consideration of the relevant provisions of the Clean Water Act and the statute as a whole, relevant Supreme Court case law, and the agencies’ technical expertise after more than 45 years of implementing the longstanding pre-2015 “waters of the United States” framework. This rule also considers the best available science and extensive public comment to establish a definition of “waters of the United States” that supports public health, environmental protection, agricultural activity, and economic growth. More information about the final rule is available here. Click here for more information on EPA's website.

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.

  • 26 July 2022: Special Public Notice announcing 2021 Nationwide Permits - User Guide

  • 7 April 2022: Special Public Notice announcing 2021 Nationwide Permits - Final 16 - Modified Water Quality Certification

  • 14 February 2022: Special Public Notice announcing 2021 Nationwide Permits - Final 41 - Regional Conditions

  • 7 January 2022 - Special Public Notice announcing 27 December 2021 publication in the Federal Register Notice announcing 2021 NWPs - Final 41

  • 21 June 2021:  This Special Public Notice (SPN) supersedes the SPN dated March 22, 2021 with corrections. The Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Certification (WQC) Determination for NWP 29, 39, 40, 42, 43, 48, 57, and 58 is corrected and is listed in Enclosure 1. Individual WQC is required from Ecology for all of these NWPs. There is no General WQC for these NWPs. 

  • Supplemental Documents for 2021 NWPs - Final 16

  • 31 March 2021:  A public outreach event on the 2021 NWP - Final 16 was conducted.  Click HERE to view the presentation.

  • 22 March 2021:  This Special Public Notice (SPN) supersedes the SPN dated March 9, 2021 with  revisions.  The Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Certification Determination for NWP 55 and 56 was incorrectly listed in Enclosure 1.  Individual WQC is required from the appropriate certifying agency for both NWPs.  Also, in Ecology’s WQC General Condition 2, the word “that” was changed to “and”.

  • 9 March 2021:  This Special Public Notice (SPN) supersedes the SPN dated March 5, 2021 with a revision.  The Washington State Department of Ecology Water Quality Certification General Condition 4 was incorrectly listed in Enclosure 1.  The reference to marine waters with eelgrass is corrected (bolded text) as follows: [Individual WQC] is required for activities in or affecting “marine waters with eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds (except for NWP 48)”.

  • 5 March 2021:  Final Regional Conditions for Seattle District 2021 Nationwide Permits - Final 16 and Public Outreach Event Announcement.  On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a final rule in the Federal Register (86 FR 2744) announcing the reissuance of 12 existing nationwide permits (NWPs) and four new NWPs, as well as the reissuance of NWP general conditions and definitions with some modifications. 16 NWPs will go into effect on March 15, 2021, and will expire on March 14, 2026.  You must RSVP to attend the Public Outreach Event.  See SPN for details.
  • Special Public Notice - The Special Public Notice dated January 13, 2021, announces the publication of a final rule in the Federal Register (86 FR 2744) announcing the reissuance of 12 existing nationwide permits and four new NWPs, as well as the reissuance of NWP general conditions and definitions with some modifications. These 16 NWPs will go into effect on March 15, 2021, and will expire on March 14, 2026.
  • Federal Register Notice - 2021 Nationwide Permits - Final 16 - January 13, 2021
  • 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

 Aquaculture (Permit Guidebook, Chapter IX: Aquaculture)

Request for comments until December 1, 2023 to usace.ohwm@usace.army.mil, Corps HQ. Click here to view the Joint Public Notice. Click here to view the Interim Draft National OHWM Manual. 

  •    

 

Updates on the Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District Proposal

Applicant's Proposal Description:

The Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District (applicant) is proposing construction of a water retention facility and associated infrastructure on the main-stem Chehalis River south of the Town of Pe Ell, Washington. The facility would have capacity to provide 65,000 acre-feet of temporary flood storage during major floods, and would be constructed with a foundation to allow the future expansion of its water retention capacity. The Chehalis River would flow normally during regular conditions or small flood events. The top of the dam structure would be 1,220 feet long with a maximum structural height of up to 254 feet including 3 to 5 feet of freeboard for safety. The dam is proposed to include a 210-foot-wide emergency spillway, discharging into a 70-foot stilling basin. The applicant also proposes to raise the elevation  of the Centralia-Chehalis Airport levee in Chehalis, Washington.  The levee would be raised 4 to 7 feet, along with raising Airport Road 1,700 feet along the southern extent of the airport. The proposal is in pre-application status.

Links to EIS Scoping Information
NEPA Scoping Report
http://chehalisbasinstrategy.com/eis/

Special Public Notice
Notice of intent to prepare a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Chehalis River basin flood damage reduction project

Special Public Notice
Proposed WRRDA Agreement with Chehalis River Basin Flood Control Zone District


September 28, 2018 News Release - Scoping Period Opens for EIS
Environmental review starts for Chehalis River

 

Technical Documents

Geotechnical Investigations Study (Landslides, roads/bridges)

Hydraulic Modeling (RiverFlow2d)

Hydrologic Modeling (Basin-wide rainfall-runoff model)

Smolt Abundance Studies

Wetland/Ordinary High Water Mark Delineation Report

Chehalis River Off-Channel Habitat Hydrologic Monitoring Project Text and Figures

Chehalis River Off-Channel Habitat Hydrologic Monitoring Project Appendices