Fact Sheet: Emergency Procedures for New England District - July 2026 

The USACE, Regulatory Division characterizes an emergency as 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 no action is taken. In these situations, the District Engineer (DE) can authorize expedited reviews of permit applications.

Before taking any action, you must contact the USACE Regulatory Division if you need to perform emergency work. Contact the USACE, Regulatory Division by phone or email as soon as possible to discuss the situation. The USACE, Regulatory Division, has the responsibility to determine if the proposed work is consistent with the definition of an emergency, whether authorization is needed, and if so, which type of authorization is required. Unauthorized work may be subject to enforcement action.

The USACE, Regulatory Division may not view an action as an emergency if the applicant has known of the deficient condition of the failing structure and has not made reasonable attempts to secure appropriate permits and conduct timely repairs. Emergency declarations by the state or a county government do not mean all repair activities qualify as emergency situations.

All permit reviews, including emergency reviews, require coordination with tribes, state, and federal agencies. In an emergency, reasonable effort will be made to receive comments from interest groups and others who may be affected by the action.

General information and request submittals: https://rrs.usace.army.mil/rrs