Regulatory Division

Additional Information

Online commenting is available for active Public Notices through the Regulatory Request System

Expired Public Notices can be requested via the Freedom of Information Act

Regulatory Public Notices

The purpose of the public notice process is to solicit comments from the public and information necessary to evaluate the probable impact on the public interest regarding the proposed activity seeking authorization from the USACE. Responses preferred to be submitted through RRS or can be submitted via email or mail to the District.
 
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The USACE is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State, and local agencies and officials; Tribal Nations; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of  proposed activity by applicants. Any comments received will be considered by the USACE to determine whether to issue, modify, condition, or deny a permit for proposed activities. To make this determination, comments are used to assess impacts to endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. All factors which may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including cumulative impacts thereof; among these are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historical properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, and in general, the needs and welfare of the people.

Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. Any comments or objections which are received during this period may be forwarded to the applicant for possible resolution before the determination is made whether to issue or deny the requested permit. Please note that all comments received will become part of the administrative record and are subject to public release under the Freedom of Information Act.

Announcing Reissuance of the Nationwide Permits (NWPs), Illinois Regional Conditions, 401 Water Quality Certifications & CZMA

USACE Rock Island District, on behalf of all Illinois Districts, to include Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, and Memphis Districts
Published March 10, 2026

REISSUANCE OF NWPs: On January 8, 2026, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a final action in the Federal Register (91 FR 768) announcing the reissuance of 56 existing nationwide permits (NWPs) and one new NWP, as well as the reissuance of NWP general conditions and definitions with some modifications. These 57 NWPs will go into effect on March 15, 2026, and will expire on March 15, 2031. One NWP was not reissued.

The Corps has also issued final decision documents for the new and reissued NWPs. These final decision documents are available at www.regulations.gov at docket number COE-2025-0002. Furthermore, the national NWP decision documents will be supplemented by Division Engineers to address decisions concerning the addition of regional conditions to the NWPs.

EXPIRATION OF 2021 NWPs: The 56 existing NWPs published in the January 8, 2026, final action replace the 2021 versions of these NWPs. The 2021 versions of these NWPs expire on March 14, 2026.

REGIONAL CONDITIONS: The Rock Island District, on behalf of all Illinois Districts, to include Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, and Memphis Districts, finalized regional conditions for these 57 NWPs in the State of Illinois. Regional conditions will provide additional protection for the aquatic environment, and will help ensure that the NWPs authorized only those activities with no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. Regional conditions will help ensure protection of high value waters within the State of Illinois. Enclosure 1 provides the Regional Conditions for the State of Illinois.

The Rock Island District, on behalf of all Illinois Districts, to include Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, and Memphis Districts, determined which conditions for water quality certifications issued by the state and tribes for the issuance of these NWPs become conditions of these NWPs. The Illinois districts also determined which conditions for Coastal Zone Management Act consistency concurrences issued by the State of Illinois for the issuance of these NWPs become conditions of these NWPs. Enclosure 2 explains the Water Quality Certifications from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IL EPA) and US Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 (US EPA). Enclosure 3 explains the Illinois CZMA concurrence by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.