Construction projects in Illinois waterways, floodplains and wetlands often require both State and Federal authorization. This application packet is designed to simplify the approval process for the applicant seeking project authorizations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE), The Illinois Department of Natural Resources/Office of Water Resources (IDNR/OWR) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). Please refer to the map on page 11 for agency addresses and telephone numbers. Each of these agency’s authorities and requirements are briefly explained in the following paragraphs. Application forms are available from any of the listed agencies.
Anyone proposing to construct, operate or maintain any dam, dock, pier, wharf, sluice, levee, dike, building, utility and road crossings, piling, wall, fence or other structure in; or dredge, fill or otherwise alter the bed or banks of any stream, lake, wetland, floodplain or floodway subject to State or Federal regulatory jurisdiction should apply for agency approvals. The appropriate copy of the Illinois Joint Application Form, drawings, and copy of any additional support information should be sent to each of the regulatory agencies. Approvals may be required by any or all of the agencies. Applications filed simultaneously with the USCOE, IDNR/OWR, and IEPA will be processed concurrently in an independent manner, and should result in expedited receipt of all agency determinations. If a permit is not required by one or more of the agencies, they will inform the applicant and the other agencies.
Coordination with the regulatory and other review agencies is recommended as early as possible during the project planning stage. This allows revisions or other measures necessary to meet agency requirements to be made before project plans are finalized.