24 Mar 2021

National Wetland Plant List Initial

Expiration date: 4/24/2021

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 draft changes to the 2020 NWPL and its web address to solicit public comments. The public now has the opportunity to comment on the proposed changes to wetland indicator status ratings for five plant species in select regions and the addition of 22 new plant species to the NWPL. The Federal Register Notice (FRN) for the 2020 NWPL update can be found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-03-24/pdf/2021-05989.pdf. The public comment period ends on 24 May 2021.

4 Mar 2021

MO 2021 NWP

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. These 16 NWPs will go into effect on March 15, 2021, and will expire on March 14, 2026. With the publication of these NWPs in the Federal Register, the Mississippi Valley Division has finalized regional conditions for these 16 NWPs in Missouri. The Section 401 Water Quality Certifications (WQC) have been issued for Section 404 NWP activities by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). There are 40 existing NWPs that were not reissued or modified by the January 13, 2021 final rule. These 40 NWPs were published in the January 6, 2017, issue of the Federal Register (82 FR 1860) and these NWPs remain in effect until the Corps issues a final rule reissuing those NWPs or March 18, 2022, whichever comes first.

4 Mar 2021

P-2731

Expiration date: 3/25/2021

The applicant, Holcim (US) Inc. of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, has applied for the reverification of a Department of the Army Permit for the project known as Holcim Ste. Genevieve Harbor. The applicant seeks authorization for a reverification to continue annual maintenance dredging of accumulated river deposits with no proposed expansion or deepening of the riprap blanketed inland harbor. Holcim would continue to use a hydraulic cutterhead dredge to conduct periodic maintenance dredging on an as needed basis within Holcim’s excavated inland harbor to the original construction depth. Recent high river events have caused fine sediments to deposit within the harbor. Up to 220,000 cubic yards of accumulated sediment material would be dredged annually from within the harbor and transported in a 12-inch-diameter contained pipeline to the existing open river disposal site. The disposal pipe would exit the harbor and run southward on an existing road paralleling the riverbank. The pipeline would then angle down the existing riprap bankline into the river, where it would extend to the point of discharge near the thalwag of the river. This open river disposal site has effectively allowed for the removal of fine sediments from Holcim Harbor since the last permit renewal. At the point of discharge, the pipeline would be located on pontoons which would allow for rapid removal from the river should such action be necessary. A vessel will attend the point of discharge pipeline area at all times. The vessel would monitor radio Channel 16 at all times to remain in contact with mariners. The applicant would coordinate the activity with the U.S. Coast Guard to make notice to mariners prior to each dredging event. During discharge operations, bathymetric data would be acquired weekly to ensure the open water discharge is not negatively impacting navigation. If authorized, the permit would be valid for a five-year period. The Public Notice comment period opens March 4, 2021 and closes March 25, 2021.

4 Mar 2021

2021 NWP for Illinois

Expiration date: 3/14/2026

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.  These 16 NWPs will go into effect on March 15, 2021, and will expire on March 14, 2026. With the publication of these NWPs in the Federal Register, the Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) has finalized the regional conditions for these 16 NWPs in Illinois. The Regional Conditions can be found below or accessed at the St. Louis District Regulatory web page. The Section 401 Water Quality Certifications (WQC) have been issued for Section 404 NWP activities by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The WQC can be found below or accessed at the St. Louis District Regulatory web page. There are 40 existing NWPs that were not reissued or modified by the January 13, 2021 final rule. Those 40 NWPs were published in the January 6, 2017, issue of the Federal Register (82 FR 1860) and those NWPs remain in effect until the Corps issues a final rule reissuing those NWPs or March 18, 2022, whichever comes first

13 Jan 2021

2021 Nationwide Permits

Expiration date: 3/14/2026

On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a notice in the Federal Register 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. These 16 NWPs will go into effect on March 15, 2021 and will expire on March 14, 2026. The 12 existing NWP published in the January 13, 2021 final rule replace the 2017 versions of these NWPs. The 2017 versions of NWPs 12, 21, 29, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 51, and 52 expire on March 14, 2021. With the publication of this Federal Register notice, Corps divisions will begin finalizing their regional conditions for the new and reissued NWPs. Regional conditions will provide additional protection for the aquatic environment and will help ensure that the NWPs authorize only those activities with no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. Regional conditions will help ensure protection of high value waters within the St. Louis District. Corps divisions and districts will also begin determining which conditions for water quality certifications issued by states, tribes, and EPA for the issuance of these 16 NWPs become conditions of these NWPs. Corps divisions and districts will also begin determining which conditions for Coastal Zone Management Act consistency concurrences issued by states for the issuance of these 16 NWPs become conditions of these NWPs. Those regional conditions will be announced in a future public notice issued by the St. Louis District. There are 40 existing NWPs that were not reissued or modified by the January/February 2021 final rule. Those 40 NWPs were published in the January 6, 2017, issue of the Federal Register (82 FR 1860) and those NWPs remain in effect until the Corps issues a final rule reissuing those NWPs or March 18, 2022, whichever comes first.