WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today the launch of a new “No Permit Required” module on its Regulatory Request System (RRS), an innovative online application portal designed to enhance transparency and improve public engagement with the USACE Regulatory Program.
This new module allows the public to answer a series of questions about their proposed activity to determine if authorization from USACE is required. Questions are provided in stepwise sequential order, and if the information provided through the RRS results in a response that no permit is required for the proposed activity, users will immediately be provided correspondence. If the information provided results in a response that a permit is required, the user is provided the option to apply for a permit or preapplication meeting through the appropriate RRS application module.
Questions on the new module or RRS in general should be directed to the appropriate USACE district office. RRS is accessible at https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs.
RRS is a web application designed to be user friendly and provide important information on the USACE Regulatory Program. RRS allows the public to submit individual and general permit applications, submit jurisdictional determination requests, and now, on-line and immediate confirmation that unregulated activity does not require a USACE permit.
Future enhancements to RRS include a screening tool to determine if a project requires notification to a USACE District Engineer under the Nationwide Permit Program; state and district-specific joint application modules; and the ability to submit additional information required for permit review entirely within the RRS platform.
Key benefits of the RRS system include:
· Ensuring required fields are completed through automated data validation, leading to more complete and accurate submissions.
· Improving communication through automated emails and a real-time dashboard updates thus reducing unnecessary back-and-forth between regulators and applicants.
· Enabling online access to all relevant regulatory information.
· Providing requestors the ability to download a draft request to share with others before finalizing and submitting.
· Reducing internal data entry requirements allowing project managers to focus on permit review. Information on the USACE Regulatory Program can be found at https://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/. For further details or to provide feedback about the RRS, please contact USACE at rrs@usace.army.mil.