PUBLIC NOTICE
ALTERNATIVE PERMIT APPL/CATION PROCESSING PROCEDURES FOR HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM HERMINE
The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District will initiate the following alternative permitting procedures in response to conditions resulting from possible erosion, and storm damage associated with recent passing of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hermine. These alternate
procedures will be utilized until March 1, 2017:
1. In accordance with 33 CFR 325.2(e)(4), an "emergency" is a situation which would result in an unacceptable hazard to life, a significant loss of property, or an immediate, unforeseen, and significant economic hardship if corrective action requiring a permit is not undertaken within a time period less than the normal time needed to process the permit application under standard procedures.
2. Most permitting will likely be accomplished through the nationwide permit (NWP) program. For example, all aspects of the containment/clean up/restoration operations may be authorized via NWP 3. These activities would be accomplished under the authorities of Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).
3. For those actions which do not qualify for authorization under the terms and conditions of the NWP program, the following procedures will be used:
a. Requests for expedited permits associated with Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hermine will be reviewed to determine if there is truly an emergency situation associated with the request.
b. If the action is determined to be an emergency, descriptions of the proposed action will be transmitted to representatives from each of the commenting agencies, including the State/Commonwealth agencies responsible for Section 401 Water Quality Certification and Coastal Zone Management Consistency if required.
c. The District will make a permit decision after considering/addressing any comments submitted by the agencies. It is anticipated that this process can be finalized within 24-48 hours for most actions.
2. If additional information is needed, please contact Mr. Henry Wicker, Deputy Chief, of the Wilmington District Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Wicker may be reached at (910) 251-4930, or by email at: henry.m.wicker.jr@usace.army.mil.