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Regulatory Division

Contact Information

Submittal Website:  
 
Email:  
 

Phone:
(314) 331-8575

Mailing Address:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
St. Louis District
Regulatory Division
1222 Spruce Street
St. Louis MO 63103-2833

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Permit Information

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) balances permit decisions by recognizing the essential values of the Nation's aquatic ecosystems to the general public, as well as the property rights of private citizens. 
 
Section 10 of the Rivers & Harbors Act requires Department of the Army permits for structures, work and/or fill within the nation's navigable waterways. In the St. Louis District that includes the Mississippi River, Missouri River, Salt River, Femme Osage Creek, Meramec River, Illinois River, Kaskaskia River, and Big Muddy River.
 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires permits for the discharge (placement) of dredge (material excavated from aquatic resource) or fill (materials brought from uplands) into a "waters of the U.S."  The definition of what is a "water of the U.S." is defined by regulation and the most current guidance can be found at:  https://www.epa.gov/wotus/current-implementation-waters-united-states.
 
During the permit process, the USACE considers the views of other Federal, state and local agencies, interest groups, and the general public. Any proposed activity that may impact jurisdictional waters of the U.S. should be designed to avoid and minimize any disturbance to wetlands, streams, or other aquatic areas within the project area, as much as is practicable before applying for a permit from the USACE. Remaining adverse impacts to the aquatic environment may be offset by mitigation requirements, which may include restoring, enhancing, creating and preserving aquatic functions and values. The USACE strives to make its permit decisions in a timely manner. If impacts to wetlands or any other water of the United States are proposed, apply for a USACE Regulatory permit through the Regulatory Request System (RRS).​
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Corps Regulatory Permits​ Types:
Applications for proposed projects submitted to the USACE will generally fall under one of 3 types of application processes: ​
 
  • Nationwide Permits are a streamlined series of general permits issued by the USACE throughout the US for minor projects in certain areas. 
     
  • Regional Permits are a type of general permit as defined in 33 CFR 322.2(f) and 33 CFR 323.2(n). Regional permits are district and state specific and most require pre-construction notification to the USACE. Regional Permits expand general permitting options for certain areas, work types, and applicants under special conditions.​
     
  • Standard Permit are required for projects which do not fall under the criteria for the above general permits. Individual permits require the completion of the Public Notice process, Individual 401 Water Quality Certification, alternatives analysis, and avoidance and minimization considerations. For individual permits, the USACE will issue a Public Notice advising all interested parties of the proposed activity. This Public Notice process helps the USACE to evaluate the probable impact of the project as part of the public interest review.​​
What should I do if I have questions about which permit my project will fall under?​
​Set up a Pre-Application Consultation with our office through the Regulatory Request System (RRS). This consultation can help clear up what the permitting process will look like for your specific project.​ 

Nationwide Permits

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues Nationwide Permits (NWPs) to authorize certain activities that require Department of the Army permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and/or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. The NWPs authorize activities that have minimal individual and cumulative adverse effects on the aquatic environment. The NWPs authorize a variety of activities, such as aids to navigation, utility lines, bank stabilization activities, road crossings, stream and wetland restoration activities, residential developments, mining activities, commercial shellfish aquaculture activities, and agricultural activities. 

All nationwide permits have general conditions which must be met in order for a project to qualify under the nationwide permit program. Some nationwide permits also require pre-construction notification to the USACE prior to the initiation of any activities.​  Both Illinois and Missouri have state specific regional conditions that apply to your project. 

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Expand List item 35991Collapse List item 35991  Nationwide Permit Documents
Expand List item 35992Collapse List item 35992  Nationwide Permits - Regional Conditions in St. Louis District

Regional General Permits - Illinois

Regional permits that are specific to the State of Illinois, and may also be District specific, to provide a streamlined permitting process for common regional activities that have minimal environmental impacts.  Most require pre-construction notification to the USACE. 

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Expand List item 35988Collapse List item 35988  RGP 16 - Bank Stabilization
Authorizes activities proposed by the public, railroads, transportation departments, pipeline and utility companies, and government agencies for bank stabilization activities.
Expiration Date: 10/14/2025
Geographic Scope: Memphis, Rock Island, St. Louis District portions of Illinois
Authority: 10/404
Expand List item 35985Collapse List item 35985  RGP 26 - Emergency Reconstruction and Repair Activities for Flood Damaged Areas
Authorizes the discharge of dredged or fill material and other work associated with emergency restoration, repair, or reconstruction measures performed in Waters of the United States (WOUS) in the State of Illinois as a result of damages recently incurred during flooding.
Expiration Date: 6/27/2028
Geographic Scope: State of Illinois EXCEPT Louisville District portion
Authority: 10/404
Expand List item 35986Collapse List item 35986  RGP 38 - Linear Transportation Crossings
Authorizes the construction, expansion, modification or improvement of linear transportation projects that result in impacts of up to 1 acre in Waters of the United States (WOTUS).
Expiration Date: 3/4/2027
Geographic Scope: State of Illinois
Authority: 10/404
Expand List item 35990Collapse List item 35990  RGP 44 - Fill Material Placed for Utility Lines (Expired)
Activities required for the construction, maintenance, repair, and removal of utility lines and associated facilities in waters of the United States, provided the activity does not result in the loss of greater than 1/2-acre of waters of the United States for each single and complete project.
Expiration Date: 12/21/2025
Geographic Scope: State of Illinois
Authority: 10/404

Regional General Permits - Missouri

Regional permits that are specific to the State of Missouri, and may also be District specific, to provide a streamlined permitting process for common regional activities that have minimal environmental impacts.  Most require pre-construction notification to the USACE. 

Expand List item 41354Collapse List item 41354  RGP 34 - Sand and Gravel Excavation Activities
Authorizes the discharge of dredged and/or fill material related to mechanical sand and gravel excavation in Missouri.
Expiration Date: 8/6/2031
Geographic Scope: State of Missouri
Authority: 10/404
Expand List item 41355Collapse List item 41355  RGP 41 - Permanent Protection/Repair of Flood Damaged Structures, Lands and/or Fills
Authorizes the excavation or placement of fill material for the permanent protection of and/or the repair of existing flood damaged structures, damaged land areas, and/or damaged fill in Missouri.
Expiration Date: 6/14/2028
Geographic Scope: Memphis and St. Louis District portions of Missouri
Authority: 10/404
Expand List item 41356Collapse List item 41356  RGP 44 - Maintenance of Public Stormwater, Sanitary, and Combined Sewer Systems
Authorizes sediment and debris removal, maintenance of existing stormwater conveyances or basins in Waters of the United States (WOUS), improvements to existing stormwater management facilities, maintenance or repair of existing stormwater, sanitary, or combined sewer systems in WOUS, maintenance and repair of existing access roads and ramps, and vegetation removal in Missouri.
Expiration Date: 6/20/2028
Geographic Scope: St. Louis District portion of Missouri
Authority: 404
Expand List item 41353Collapse List item 41353  RGP 45 - Maintenance of Man-Made Lakes and Ponds 
Discharge of dredged or fill material associated with activities designed to improve water quality, improve fish and wildlife habitat, maintain recreational value, and extend the lifespan of man-made lakes and ponds, to include the removal and discharge of lakebed/pond sediment in conjunction with mechanical dredging, hydraulic dredging (including return water from such activities) and excavation activities.
Expiration: 9/12/2030
Geographic Scope: Missouri EXCEPT Lake of the Ozarks

Authority: Section 10/404

Application Information

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Expand List item 10834Collapse List item 10834  Illinois Joint Application

Construction projects in Illinois waterways, floodplains, and wetlands often require both State and Federal authorization.

Please use the Illinois Joint Application Form if seeking project authorizations from the Corps, Illinois Department of Natural Resources/Office of Water Resources (IDNR/OWR), and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).  A copy of the application and supplemental documents should be sent to each of the agencies. Applications filed simultaneously with the Corps, 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.

Expand List item 35742Collapse List item 35742  Missouri Permit Applications

Permit application submittals should include maps and/or photos to accurately identify the project location. If unable to use the RRS permit application website please download Form 4345 then email the completed form and supplemental documents to MVS-Regulatory@usace.army.mil. For large files please request a DoD Safe file transfer link from MVS-Regulatory@usace.army.mil.

Note: Some documents must be opened using Adobe Acrobat, they will not open in a web browser. Right click the document link, select "Save Link As" to download the document, go to the folder you downloaded to and open the PDF document. You may need to select "Enable All Features" to view the document in Adobe Acrobat.