Header Images

 

Site Title

NEW ENGLAND DISTRICT

Public Affairs Menu

Redirecting...

News Release Manager

Corps of Engineers reissues general permit for the state of Connecticut for minimal impact activities within U.S. waters

Published July 20, 2011

CONCORD, Mass. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District has reissued the statewide Connecticut General Permit for minimal-impact activities within the state of Connecticut. The prior Connecticut Programmatic General Permit (PGP) expired on May 31, 2011. This General Permit became effective July 15, 2011.

 

The reissued Connecticut General Permit continues the expedited review process for activities within Corps jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. This notice is being issued in accordance with 33 CFR 325.10 to ensure potential applicants for permits are informed of the requirements of 33 CFR 320-330 and of the steps required to obtain permits for activities in waters of the U.S. or ocean waters.

General Permits were encouraged under the President’s plan to streamline state and federal regulatory programs. The Corps of Engineers has already had success with streamlining these programs through the use of general permits throughout New England. This General Permit is designed to authorize activities covered under the Nationwide Permit (NWP) program and the prior PGP. Continued use of the general permit process in place of the NWPs will provide important benefits to the public, including simplifying the process, state and federal concurrent review, and providing necessary environmental protection.

 

Projects with minimal individual and cumulative effects on the aquatic environment will be approved administratively under this General Permit. Projects that do not meet the terms and conditions of this GP will be subjected to Individual Permit review. The Individual Permit review procedures are not altered by the GP. Federal exemptions, which are not necessarily the same as the state of Connecticut’s exemptions, are also not altered by the GP. Project proponents must also obtain any appropriate local and state approvals when required in order for this GP to be valid. All GP authorizations will be subject to the applicability requirements, procedures, and conditions contained in the GP document.

 

The new GP supercedes the previous PGP, but does not affect activities authorized under the previous PGP that have commenced prior to the new issuance. Activities which have commenced (i.e. are under construction or are under contract to commence) prior to the expiration date of the previous PGP in reliance upon the terms and conditions of the category under which it was authorized, shall remain authorized provided the activity is completed by May 31, 2012 or in accordance with specific expiration requirements contained in the individual Corps PGP authorization letter for Category 2 projects.

 

 

To view the public notice announcing the reissued General Permit go to the Corps website at  http://www.nae.usace.army.mil. Select “Regulatory/Permitting” and then weekly public notices and search by state. The reissued Connecticut GP is available for view at: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Regulatory/SGP/ct.htm.

 

Additional information or a copy of the Connecticut GP is available from Permit Project Manager Diane Ray at 978-318-8831, or toll free at 800-362-4367 (if calling from within Massachusetts), or 800-343-4789 (if calling from outside of Massachusetts) or by email at diane.m.ray@usace.army.mil.


Contact
Tim Dugan
978-318-8264
cenae.pa@usace.army.mil

Release no. 2011-070