CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District recently issued the statewide Massachusetts General Permits (GPs) for minimal-impact activities subject to Corps jurisdiction in waters of the U.S. within the boundaries of, and off the coast of, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, excluding work within the boundaries of Indian Tribal lands. These GPs became effective on Feb. 4, 2015.

The GPs were issued in accordance with Corps regulations at 33 CFR 320-332 [see 33 CFR 325.5(c)(1)]. The GPs will protect the aquatic environment and the public interest while effectively authorizing activities that have no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse effects on the aquatic environment.

In anticipation of questions on these Massachusetts GPs, the Corps will hold 12 outreach information webinars for stakeholders throughout the state from March 4 - 19, 2015 at various times and on various days. Information on how to access these webinars, dates, times and specific subjects for that specific session are available in a public notice published on Feb. 25, 2015 that is available for review on the Corps website at: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.

      The direct link to the notice is:

      http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Portals/74/docs/regulatory/publicnotices/NAE-2012-00009.pdf

The Massachusetts GPs are available for viewing and download at the Corps website:

      http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/StateGeneralPermits/MassachusettsGeneralPermit.aspx

For additional information on (file # NAE-2012-00009) contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Regulatory Division (ATTN: Greg Penta), 696 Virginia Road, Concord, MA 01742-2751; or contact Permit Project Manager Greg Penta at 978-318-8862 or toll free 800-343-4789 or 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts) or by email: gregory.r.penta@usace.army.mil.