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Regulatory Guidance Letters

This page last updated May 19, 2009 .

 
More policies, laws and guidance on the Regulatory program can be found in the Wilmington District's Regulatory Library.

The Corps uses Regulatory Guidance Letters (RGL) to organize and track written guidance issued to its field agencies. The Corps releases an RGL to clarify new policies, judicial decisions, and changes to the Corps regulations or another agency’s regulations that affect the permit program.  The Corps identifies RGL’s by year released and by  sequential number.   RGLs are written to expire on a specified date. However, unless superseded by specific provisions of subsequently issued regulations or RGL’s, the guidance provided in RGL’s generally remains valid after the expiration date. The RGLs shown in gray are no longer valid but can be downloaded here for archival purposes.  The Corps incorporates most of the guidance provided by RGL’s whenever it revises its permit regulations.

2008

08-03 - Minimum Monitoring Requirements for Compensatory Mitigation Projects Involving the Restoration, Establishment, and/or Enhancement of Aquatic Resources.

08-02 - Outlines requirements for approved and preliminary jurisdictional determinations. (Supersedes parts of RGL 07-01).  Sample required preliminary JD form (Word format) included.

08-01 - Outlines requirements for "Silent Inspector" (SI), an automated dredge contract monitoring system, for automated dredge monitoring.

2007

07-01 - Practices for Documenting Jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Sections 9 & 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) of 1899.

07-02 - Exemptions for Construction or Maintenance of Irrigation Ditches and Maintenance of Drainage Ditches Under Section 404 of Clean Water Act.

07-03 - Department of the Army Permit Processing for Proposed Natural Gas Projects.

07-04 - Emergency permitting for mosquito control.

2006

06-01  Determining timeliness for Requests for Appeals.

06-02  Guidance on the requirements and type of material testing required for dredging activities.

06-03  Minimum Monitoring Requirements for Compensatory Mitigation Projects.

06-04  Guidance for the Implementation of the Silent Inspector (SI) for Dredging Projects.

 

2005

05-01 Guidance on the Use of Financial Assurances, and Suggested Language for Special Conditions for Department of the Army Permits Requiring Performance Bonds.

05-02  Expiration of Geographic Jurisdictional Determinations of Waters of the United States

05-03  Nationwide Permit Verifications and the Expiration of the 2002 Nationwide Permits and Future Nationwide Permits

05-04 Guidance on the Discharge of Sediments From or Through a Dam and the Breaching of Dams, for purposes of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act.

05-05 - Guidance on Ordinary High water mark Identification

05-06 - Guidance on Expired Regulatory Guidance Letters

05-07 - Guidance on Approved NEPA Categorical Exclusions for Nationwide Permit 23

05-08 - Guidance on Environmental Impact Statements -- Third Party Contracting

05-09 - Guidance on Special Area Management Plans

2002

02-01 Inclusion of Disclaimer Statements in Jurisdictional Letters Indicating that The Clean Water Act (CWA) Jurisdictional Determinations/Delineations May Not Meet the Requirements of The Food Security Act (FSA) of 1985

02-02 Guidance on Compensatory Mitigation Projects for Aquatic Resource Impacts Under the Corps Regulatory Program Pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

2001

01-01 Guidance for the Establishment and Maintenance of Compensatory Mitigation Projects Under the Corps Regulatory Program Pursuant to Section 404(a) of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899.

1996

96-01 Use of Nationwide Permit Number 23 for U.S. Coast Guard Categorical Exclusions

96-02 Applicability of Exemptions under Section 404(f) to "Deep Ripping" Activities in Wetlands

1995

95-01 Guidance on Individual Permit Flexibility for Small Landowners

1994

94-01 Extension of RGL 90-06, Expiration of Geographic Jurisdictional Determinations

94-02 Extension of RGL 85-07, Superfund Projects

1993

93-01 Provisional Permits

93-02 Guidance on Flexibility of the 404(b)(1) Guidelines and Mitigation Banking

93-03 Rescission of RGLs 90-5, 90-7, and 90-8

1992

92-01 Federal Agencies Roles and Responsibilities

92-02  Water Dependency and Cranberry Production

92-03  Extension of RGL 86-10, Special Area Management Plans (SAMPS)

92-04  Section 401 Water Quality Certification and Coastal Zone Management Act Conditions for Nationwide Permits

92-05  Alternatives Analysis Under the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines for Projects Subject to Modification Under the Clean Water Act

1991

91-01  Extensions of Time for Individual Permit Authorizations

1990

90-01   Nationwide Permit Verification

90-02   Permits for Structures and Fills Which Affect the Territorial Seas

90-03   Extension of RGL 87-08, Testing Requirements for Dredged Material Evaluation

90-04   Water Quality Considerations (33 CFR 320.4 (d) )

90-05   Landclearing Activities Subject to Section 404 Jurisdiction

90-06   Expiration Dates for Wetlands Jurisdictional Delineations

90-07   Clarification of the Phrase "Normal Circumstances" as it Pertains to Cropped Wetlands

90-08   Applicability of Section 404 to Pilings

90-09   Wetlands Enforcement Initiative

1989

89-01  Nationwide Permit Review Time, General Permit Notifications

89-02  Extension of RGL 85-07, Superfund Projects

89-03  Activities Within Superfund Sites

89-04  Mandatory Public Notice Language

1988

88-01  Length of Public Notices

88-02  Accounting: Charges to Projects

88-03  Wetland Jurisdictional Determinations

88-04  Enforcement Limitations

88-05  Applicant Responsibility for Providing Information

88-06  Nationwide Permit Guidance

88-07  Certification of Compliance with Permit Terms and Conditions by Permittees

88-08  Regulation of Artificial Islands, Installations, and Structures on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf

88-09  Permit Coordination; Corps Civil Works Projects

88-10  Regulation of Waste Disposal from In-Stream Placer Mining

88-11  NEPA Scope of Analysis; Mall Properties, Inc. vs. Marsh

88-12  Processing Time; Regulatory Thresholds

88-13  National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Scope of Analysis and Alternatives

88-14  Applicability of Section 404 to Piles

88-15  Third-Party Contracting

88-16  NW7 Clarification of RGL 88-06

1987

87-01 Streamlining the NEPA Process

87-02 Use of the Word "Significant" in Permit Documentation

87-03 Section 401 Water Quality Certification

87-04 Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Regulatory Actions

87-05 EIS Costs That Can Be Paid By The Applicant

87-06 Inspection and Surveillance of Permitted Activities

87-07 Section 404 (f)(1)(c) Statutory Exemption for Drainage Ditch Maintenance

87-08 Testing Requirements for Dredged Material Evaluations

87-09 Section 404 (f)(1)(c) Exemption for Construction or Maintenance of Farm or Stock Ponds

87-10 Use of Nationwide Permit 23 for new Federal Highway Administration Categorical Exclusions

87-11 Extension of RGL 85-06

1986

86-01Exemptions to CWA - Plowing

86-02 Nationwide Permit at 33 CFR 330.5(A)(23): Categorical Exclusions

86-03 Section 404(f)(1)(e) Exemption of Farm and Forest Roads (33 CFR Part 323.4(a)(6))

86-04 Projects Involving Both Individual and General Permits

86-05 Interagency Agreement-Guidance: Implementation of Sec 404(q) MOAs with DOI, EPA, and DOC

86-06 Water Quality Considerations

86-07 Projects Involving Both Individual and General Permits

86-08 Summary of Decision in River Road Alliance vs Corps of Engineers

86-09 Clarification of "Normal Circumstances" in the Wetland Definition (33 CFR 323.2(c))

86-10 Special Area Management Plans (SAMPS)

86-11 Acknowledging Public Notice Comments

86-12 National Security: Permit Applications for Military Projects Involving Presence of Nuclear Weapons

1985

85-01 State Transfer Authority

85-02 Permit for Bridges and Causeways in the Navigable Waters of the U.S.

85-03 Contractor Reports

85-04 Agricultural Conversion: Avoyelles

85-05 Referral Provisions of 33 CFR 325.8

85-06 Permit Conditioning for Minimum In-Stream Flows

85-07 Superfund Projects

85-08 Implementation of Fish and Wildlife Mitigation in the Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program

1984

84-01 Agricultural Conversion: Regulatory Jurisdiction Over Vegetative Operations

84-02 Criteria for Individual Review of Discharge Activities Subject to Certain Nationwide General Permit

84-03 Processing Time Measurement

84-04 Application of Sec 404 to Dredging Projects

84-05 Fifth Circuit Decision in Avoyelles vs. Marsh

84-06 EPA's Role in Determining Compliance with Sec 404(B)(1) Guidelines

84-07 Charting of Pipelines and Cables

84-08 Pre-Authorization Submittal of State Program General Permits (SPGP)

84-09 Permit Decision Documentation

84-10 Considerations of Fairness and Equity in Implementing the Discretionary Authority Under 330.7

84-11 Nationwide Rivers Inventory

84-12 Public Notice Requirements -- Nationwide Permits

84-13 Permitting Activities Associated with Corps Planning and O&M Projects

84-14 33 CFR 330.8 Discretionary Authority

84-15 Nationwide Permit 26 -- Designation of Classes of Discharges and Categories of Waters of Concern

84-16 Conditioning of DA Permits to Comply with Section 401

84-17 Permits for Activities Which May Modify or Encroach on Constructed Congressionally Authorized Work

1983

83-01 Nationwide Permits, General Issues

83-02 Implementing Procedures for Section 404(Q) MOAs with Departments of Agriculture and Transportation

83-03 Section 103 vs. Section 404 in the Territorial Seas

83-04 Distribution of Public Notices for Activities Involving Agricultural Conversions

83-05 Nationwide Permit at 330.5(A)(23): Categorical Exclusions

83-06 Endangered Species Act - Regulatory Program

83-07 General Permits for Reducing Duplication (State Program General Permits)

83-08 Nationwide Permit Program - Monitoring Activities

83-09 Making of Aerial Power Transmission Lines, Cables, and Structures

83-10 Rescission of RGL 82-10, Navigability Studies

83-11 Modification to Proposed Activities During the Processing of Corps Permits

1982

82-01 Navigability Studies

82-02 Clarification of "Normal Circumstances" in the Wetland Definition

82-03 Irrigation Exemption in Section 404(F)(1)(C) of the Clean Water Act

82-04 Release of Correspondence Received on Permit Applications

82-05 Permit Conditioning for Minimum In-Stream Flows

82-06 Review of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits

82-07 60-Day Limit for Decision Making

82-08 State and Local Primacy

82-09 Implementing Procedures for Section 404(Q) Memoranda of Agreement

82-10 Nationwide Permit at 33 CFR 330.5(A)(23)

82-11 Agricultural Conversion: Regulatory Jurisdiction Over Vegetative Operations

82-12 Phase In of Change to 33 CFR 326 (Enforcement)

82-13 Public Notice Comment Period

82-14 Section 10 Jurisdictional Limits in Non-Tidal Rivers and Lakes

82-15 Permit for Bridges and Causeways In or Over Navigable Waters of the U.S.

82-16 State Transfer Authority

1981

81-01 Maintenance Dredging

81-02 Review of Another Agency's EIS

81-03 Implementation of Guidelines for Section 404(B)(1) of the Clean Water Act

81-04 Application of Section 404 to Dredging Permits

81-05 Bonding of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Activities

81-06 Statement of Need for an EIS in Public Notices

81-07 Obtaining Information to Supplement ENG Form 4345

81-08 Distribution of Public Notices

81-09 Status of Regulations Implementing Section 404(F) of the Clean Water Act

81-10 General Permits

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